Cute Iowa toddler awaits ‘smile surgery’

One-year-old Preston Tassi cannot smile.

The adorable toddler from Des Moines, Iowa, was born with Moebius Syndrome, sometimes called "China Doll Syndrome," a rare neurological syndrome that affects the muscles in his face.

His eyes are almost always open. He cannot look from side to side. With no facial muscular control, smiling is impossible.

He can't even close his lips around a bottle.

"As we feed him we have to hold his cheeks in,” Preston's mother, Sarah Tassi, tells KCCI.

Also see: Rare conditions prevents boy from eating food

Preston's parents, Jason and Sarah Tassi, are currently raising awareness for this rare condition and trying to raise the funds needed for their son to under an expense re-animation surgery, or "smile surgery," when he gets a little older, likely around the age of five.

"The 'Smile Surgery' is performed in only a few places; a few that we know of are St. Louis, Boston, Seattle, and Los Angeles, and are researching these hospitals now," the Tassis write. "The surgery consists of taking a segment of the gracilis muscle from the thigh to the face. Here it is revascularized and reinnervated. Each side takes about 12 hours because of this they like to do each side separately and space them at least three months apart. The purpose of the surgery isn't only for smiling but also it will help with his eating, drinking, (and possibly speech)."

The family has raised more than $9,000 of their $100,000 goal so far. Next month, Jason and Sarah will be holding a bluegrass concert benefit for their little boy.

Preston, who was also born with one finger on his right hand, another symptom of Moebius, currently attends weekly therapy sessions. He's almost walking.

Also see: Groundbreaking surgery gives toddler a new windpipe

"Certainly you hope with therapy and surgical interventions, that the Tassi family is working towards, you hope things get better," says Dr. Nate Noble, Preston's doctor at Blank Children's Hospital.

For now, the doting parents find Preston's smile in his eyes.

"You can tell in his eyes when he's smiling," Sarah tells KCCI.

"We just feel blessed to have him in our lives," Jason says. "Every second of it."

"We hope that sharing our story (his story), it will raise more awareness for others with this very rare syndrome," the Tassis write on their Smiles for Preston website. "And for others to realize you can't always judge a book by it's cover. Just because someone may not smile on the outside...doesn't always mean they're not smiling on the inside."