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A baby born without a skull who wasn't expected to survive birth has made it to his first birthday.

Doctors said that Owen Masterson was "would not be compatible with life" after he was born missing the top part of his skull.

But his parents were thrilled to celebrate their son turning one at their home in Missouri, USA, proving the medical professionals wrong.

The Springfield News-Leader reports Jessica Masterson gave birth at 24 weeks having been told the baby probably wouldn't survive the pregnancy.

(Image: Facebook)

But Owen was born last October with acalvaria, an extremely rare malformation consisting of the absence of skull and facial bones.

"He won't be compatible with life," his dad Tom recalled a doctor's words. "He will not survive this."

Owen has no skull above his eyebrow and ears to protect his brain.

When the condition was discovered during an ultrasound at 24 weeks, the doctors were not sure if Owen even had skin covering his brain.

"Our pastor had come to the hospital before he was born and was able to pray with us," Tom told the paper.

"We felt confident that God was going to do something, that Owen had a very specific purpose.

"We didn't know what that was. But we felt there was a very specific purpose for him."

(Image: Facebook)

“We are so thankful for him," he continued. "I'm so happy that we get to experience this. And we don't know what this looks like long term.

"The doctors are like, 'We are done telling you. We don't know. We haven't been right yet, so we are going to stop talking about it.'"

Jessica added: "It's definitely challenging, but I wouldn't change him. I love him the way he is."