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Baby born with major organs OUTSIDE of body defies incredible survival odds to celebrate first Christmas at home
- Elsie’s stomach, liver and intestines were outside of her little body when she was born.
- She was born via a complex caesarean section in May of this year.
- One in five babies born with Elise’s omphalocele does not survive
- After months in the hospital, he is home to celebrate Christmas with his family.
A baby born with major internal organs outside her body has defied the odds and is about to enjoy her first Christmas.
Little Elsie’s parents, Hannah and Simon Cox, from Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, received the shocking news at a 12-week scan that their baby boy had a ‘giant’ omphalocele.
The condition involves a baby’s organs growing outside of its body in the umbilical cord.
Elsie’s stomach, liver and intestines were all outside of her tiny body, posing a major challenge for her medical team at the Mater Center for Maternal Fetal Medicine at the Mater Mothers Hospital who had to ensure that her organs were not ruptured during delivery.
Elsie’s stomach, liver and intestines were outside of her little body, posing a huge challenge for her medical team.
On May 30, at 39 weeks into Ms. Cox’s pregnancy, Dr. James Aridas performed a complex caesarean section to deliver Elsie, who weighed 2.56kg.
Dr. Aridas said a team of more than 10 medical professionals assisted in the successful delivery, including surgeons and anesthetists, as well as midwives and nursing staff.
“We needed to be careful with Elsie not to put pressure on her abdomen or the umbilical cord during delivery,” said Dr. Aridas.
‘This was definitely the largest omphalocele I’ve ever seen in my career.
“It was a very delicate and challenging delivery, but everything went according to plan.”
Mater director of neonatology Pita Birch said omphaloceles affected one in 4,200 live births, but “giant” ones were much rarer and often associated with other abnormalities.
One in five babies born with a giant omphalocele do not survive.
Elsie’s condition was diagnosed in a 12-week scan: a baby’s organs grow outside of her body in the umbilical cord.
After months in the hospital, Elsie defied the odds in her first year and will spend her first Christmas at home.
“There was a plan to try at least a partial closure of Elsie’s abdomen, but she was too sick and had a series of respiratory problems at birth,” said Dr Birch.
She said Elsie’s care had been a “great team effort”, including input from her parents, who were “very caring and actively involved” in her care.
Ms Cox said Elsie’s condition had affected her respiratory system as her ribs and chest had formed into a cone shape and she may need surgery when she grows up.
But otherwise, Elsie, who spent nearly two months in 24-hour care at Mater Mothers’ Hospital, is a thriving and happy baby.
‘Her tummy is pretty flat now; He has a small bulge that looks like a hernia, but it’s really just his intestines still moving down. Her body still needs some time to heal.
The couple is looking forward to celebrating their first Christmas with their amazing baby girl.
“What we have been through this year has felt like a lifetime. I look at the photos and see how far Elsie has come and think ‘she’s our miracle,'” said Ms Cox.
It’s been quite the journey and she’s worth every minute.
“We never imagined we would be home for Christmas with Elsie and sharing it with our friends and family is such a precious joy.”