Brisbane baby Saylor Thomson born with tumour twice her weight
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Baby girl is born with a huge tumor on her spine TWICE her size – this is how 25 doctors saved her life
- Tumor removed from the preterm newborn was almost twice as large
- Sacrococcygeal teratoma is a tumor that grows from a baby’s tailbone
- Baby Saylor had little chance, but survived after six hours of surgery
Baby Saylor Thomson is lucky to be alive after doctors removed a spinal cord tumor from the preterm newborn that was nearly twice her size.
Saylor had little chance of survival after being born with a 2 kg sacrococcygeal teratoma.
But she has grown stronger every day after a successful six-hour surgery involving 25 medical specialists at the Mater Mothers’ Hospital in Brisbane.
Parents Rachel and Kieran Thomson shared their story to give hope to others on World Premature Day on November 17.
Rachel and Kieran Thomson are pictured with Saylor and her older sister. Saylor had little chance of survival after being born with a two-pound sacrococcygeal teratoma
Sacrococcygeal teratoma is a tumor that grows from a baby’s tailbone and affects one in 40,000 live births.
The tumor diverts the baby’s blood, increasing the risk of heart failure.
When Rachel was 20 weeks pregnant, she and Kieran were told their baby had a 25-40 percent chance of survival.
Saylor was born three months premature in August, with the tumor weighing twice her birth weight of 1,025 grams.
“When the social worker and surgeons first got together to tell us she had little chance of making it because of prematurity and the tumor, I cried hysterically,” said Ms. Thomson.
“But to be able to hold Saylor in my arms and know she’s come through the other side is something special.”
The complex operation required a team of 25 surgeons, neonatologists, anesthetists, theater staff, nurses and midwives.
Mater Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit subspecialist Sailesh Kumar said Saylor’s tumor was the largest ever removed from a baby her size at Mater Mothers’ Hospital.
“We don’t know why the tumor grows, but it arises from embryonic germ cells and is four times more common in female infants,” said Professor Kumar.
Saylor’s tumor was extremely large and very complex. The tumor spread into her pelvis and abdomen.
“Many of these babies don’t survive the pregnancy.”
The complex operation required a team of 25 surgeons, neonatologists, anesthetists, theater staff, nurses and midwives
Three months after her birth, Saylor is thriving and getting stronger every day.
Mater neonatologist Richard Mausling said Saylor was lucky to be alive.
“Being born prematurely, even at 28 weeks, comes with its own potential risks,” said Dr Mausling.
“This was without a doubt the largest teratoma I’ve ever seen removed from a newborn, regardless of pregnancy.”
Parents Rachel and Kieran Thomson (pictured with baby Saylor) shared their story to give hope to others on World Premature Day on November 17