A TODDLER battling a rare brain condition has been left with "devil horns" after a botched operation.

Twenty-two month old Clyne Solano suffered from congenital hydranencephaly in the womb which prevented his brain from developing fully.

Clyne's mother Justine Gatarin, 21, gave birth in January 2017 and immediately noticed the small cracks in the top of Clyne's skull.

He underwent an operation for the condition in March this year to relieve swelling on the brain, which was a success.

But the surgical procedure caused his skull to cave in to the holes in his head where brain tissue was missing.

Since then the horn-like ridges have become more pronounced as his bones continue to grow.

As well as battling hydranencephaly, Clyne also now needs reconstructive surgery to attempt to return his head to a normal shape.

But his mother Justine is afraid of putting her only child through another operating in case he is not strong enough to survive.

"My son already had the operation for his hydronencephaly,” she said.

"This made his head cave in the middle. To fix this, he will need a reconstructive surgery.

"I don't want to proceed with it for now because I am afraid that my baby is not yet strong enough for it.

"This is why I am having a hard time making a decision. If we don't do it, his head will look like that for the rest of his life.

"Some people say his head resembles devil horns, but to us there's no doubt he is an angel It breaks my heart to see him suffering."

Hydranencephaly is caused by the right and left hemispheres of the brain failing to develop in the womb and is incurable.

Though most infants born with the severe condition die within a few months, Clyne is battling on.

Despite the severity of the condition, medics in Pasig City, the Philippines have given Clyne a “good” prognosis for his expected life.

Clyne's most recent operation was on November 6 to change the tube in his airways that allows him to breathe.

He is fed by pouring milk and supplements through a second tube going through his nose and into his oesophagus.

Doctors at the Philippines Children's Medical Center said he is being “seen regularly” by a neurologist.

They are currently waiting for CT scans, MRI scans, EEG videos and other specialist analysis before proceeding with Clyne's treatment.

Justine said: ''We sold almost everything we own to have enough money for the operation. But even after the operation we still have to go back to the hospital regularly.

The tube in his neck which allows him to breathe needs to be replaced every six months.

''I am sad to see my baby suffering like this. If only I could switch places with him I will do it right now," said Justine.

"We will keep fighting for as long as Clyne does. And when he has no strength we will be there for him.

"We have heard stories of babies hydranencephaly living into their teens. Clyne's strong so I know he can do it.''

Babies with hydranencephaly have limited brain development and can also suffer with seizures, lack of growth, breathing and digestion problems, difficulty regulating body temperature, vision problems and intellectual disability.