When Matteo DiMartino entered the world, he carried a challenge far greater than any newborn should face. Beneath his left arm and across his chest lay an enormous cyst — so large that doctors compared it to the size of a football. Long before he drew his first breath, this mass had already shaped the beginning of his life.
For his parents, Christina and Franco, what began as an exciting pregnancy quickly turned into a frightening ordeal. At just 13 weeks, Christina arrived for what she assumed was a routine ultrasound. Instead, she found herself alone on the table as the sonographer stepped out in silence. Moments later, a group of doctors returned with news that crushed the couple’s joy.
Their baby had a severe cystic hygroma, a rare disorder involving the lymphatic system. The growth was already the size of his head and covered nearly half of his tiny body, stretching from his chest to his armpit. Doctors warned that the outlook was extremely grim: Matteo had about a nine percent chance of surviving to delivery and a significant risk of serious chromosomal abnormalities.
“At first, I thought a cyst couldn’t possibly be that serious,” Christina said. “Then they showed me the scan, and everything inside me sank.”
The couple were forced to consider heartbreaking options, including ending the pregnancy. But after years of trying to have a child, Christina and Franco held on to hope.
“We chose to let him fight,” Christina said. “We wanted to give him every possible chance.”
Further genetic testing brought a glimmer of comfort — the results showed no chromosomal issues. With each passing week, the family clung to cautious optimism, even as the cyst continued to grow. Doctors monitored the baby closely, recognizing that every additional day in the womb was a remarkable step forward.
On April 17, 2019, Matteo was delivered by emergency C-section. He weighed just over 4 kilograms, but doctors estimated that nearly one-third of that weight came from the massive cyst. The growth wrapped around his torso and shoulder, limiting his movement so severely that he struggled even to lift his head.
From birth, everyday developmental steps were out of reach. Matteo couldn’t roll over or sit up. He couldn’t wear normal baby clothes. He couldn’t rest comfortably in a car seat. The cyst also caused recurring skin infections, adding to his discomfort during those early months.
Watching him fall behind while other babies progressed was emotionally exhausting for Christina and Franco.
“Some days I felt completely broken,” Christina said. “You want nothing more than to see your baby grow and explore like others do — but he simply couldn’t.”
At six months old, doctors finally determined that Matteo was strong enough to undergo surgery. At Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New York, a specialized surgical team prepared for the delicate procedure to remove the vast cyst that had dominated his young life.
The operation went smoothly.
For the first time, Matteo’s little body was free from the weight holding him back. His recovery took time, but the changes began almost immediately.
He lifted his head.
He managed to roll over.
And eventually, he began to crawl.
Now ten months old, Matteo is achieving milestones doctors once doubted he would ever reach. He pulls himself up. He crawls with confidence. He feeds himself small foods. He babbles joyfully and calls out “mama.” His laughter fills the home — a sound his parents once weren’t sure they would ever hear.
“He’s beaten every expectation,” Christina said. “He hasn’t just survived — he’s thriving.”
Although the largest cyst is gone, Matteo’s medical journey is not completely finished. Doctors continue to watch him closely because a few small cysts and fatty areas remain and may require treatment later on. The lingering uncertainty is difficult for his parents.
“Not knowing what comes next is tough,” Christina admitted. “But we try our best to focus on each day.”
Seeing Matteo now, it’s hard to picture the newborn who once struggled under the weight of a football-sized mass. His parents understand exactly how close they came to losing him — and how extraordinary his survival truly is.
“He’s our miracle,” Christina said. “Every little milestone feels like a blessing.”
Matteo’s story is one of strength, determination, and hope — proof that even the tiniest fighters can triumph over overwhelming odds. Where fear once lived, there is now progress. Where uncertainty once loomed, there is happiness.
With every giggle, every movement, and every step toward the future, Matteo DiMartino shows that miracles sometimes arrive small, determined, and stronger than anyone imagined.