After initially removing photos of an Alabama boy born without a nose because they were deemed to be too controversial, Facebook has reinstated photos of the infant, according to his mother.

Timothy Eli Thompson was born premature on March 4 without any nasal passages or sinus cavities, a condition so rare it only has a one in 197 million chance of happening.

His mother Brandi McGlathery said Facebook removed a photo of her son a pro-life group tried to post to promote Eli's story.

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Timothy Eli Thompson was born without a nose in March in Alabama and his mom put his photo on Facebook

A picture of Eli was removed by Facebook after a pro-life group tried to post it to promote his story

The story was shared 30,000 times in six hours and the ban was lifted after complaints, WKRG reported.

Brandi said: 'I posted the status with a link about it saying no one's going to keep me from posting photos of my child.

'If I can see completely distasteful things on Facebook all day long, then I can post a picture of my son.

'He was everywhere and he broke the internet!'

Eli's parents, Brandi McGlathery (left) and Troy Thompson (right) are raising money for him on GoFundMe

Eli had to undergo a tracheotomy at only five days old.

Doctors hope to be able to drill nasal passages in Eli's skull which will allow him to breathe when he is older.

A family friend set up a GoFundMe page to help Eli's parents pay for his care.

Brandi wrote: 'He will have to have a tracheoomy & a feeding bag inserted into his stomach, which is also not what I expected.

'I would be so grateful for anything anyone could spare, but if you cannot afford to help with money I will be just as appreciative for prayers for my sweet Eli.

'He has a long road a head of him & we need all the support we can get.'

Doctors hope to be able to drill nasal passages in Eli's skull when he's older which will allow him to breathe

After he was born, Eli was treated at the USA Children's and Women's Hospital in Mobile for three weeks.

McGlathery, 23, is diligently tracking the ups and downs of her baby's progress on the Eli's Journey Facebook page.

She shared the good news of his test results, including an eye exam and cranial scan that came back normal, as well as the 'hard blow' the family was dealt when they found out Eli didn't have nasal passages.

The mother-of-three has also shared the emotional joys she's had with Eli, including his first successful bath and bottle feeding, and the first time she saw his face without an oral respirator.

She is worried about what Eli will have to experience as he grows up and wrote: 'My biggest fear for Eli is that the world won't see him as the beautiful, brave little boy that I see him as.'