He endured a series of major operations to correct the deformities – which included a procedure to crack open and reshape his skull and another to rebuild his features.
He also had a titanium frame drilled into his head, which was left there for nine weeks.
Billy Mitchell, seven, was born with Apert syndrome, a rare genetic condition which causes malformations
The surgeries carried risks including meningitis, brain damage, catastrophic bleeding leading to stroke and potentially death, but Billy pulled through and now his parents say he absolutely loves his new face.
Billy’s mother, Denise Mitchell, 47, said she knew immediately something was wrong with her son when he was born.
‘When I saw him I had an overwhelming sense of love. But he looked so ill and his skin appeared plastic and his head was misshapen,’ she said.
‘I also noticed his fingers and toes were sewn together.’
It was then a doctor broke the news he suspected Billy had Apert syndrome, a genetic abnormality where the bone plates in the skull fuse too early in the womb so the skull is unable to grow normally.
The condition is caused by a chromosomal defect.
Children with Apert have bulging eyes that are usually wide-set and tilted down at the sides.
They may also have problems with tooth alignment due to jaw development problems, suffer from a cleft palate, and may have webbed fingers and toes.
After his birth, doctors feared Billy would not last the night.
The next day Mr and Mrs Mitchell, who live in Hertfordshire, were forced to have a heartbreaking conversation with doctors about turning off his life support machine.
Specialists feared Billy’s nose was totally blocked with misformed and premature fused bone, blocking his airway.
