A mother was “petrified” her baby would die after being born without an anus.
Vickie Thompson from West Sussex was overjoyed when she gave birth to her son Charlie on August 12, 2022.
But just ten hours later, the 36-year-old was unable to wake him up.
Before the birth there were no signs that anything was wrong with Charlie and Vickie was in good health.
However, a closer examination by doctors at Worthington Hospital revealed that he had no anal opening – a defect that occurs in about one in 5,000 babies.
Since then he has had to undergo six life-changing surgeries.
Vickie Thompson from West Sussex was overjoyed when she gave birth to her son Charlie on August 12, 2022. But just 10 hours later, the 36-year-old couldn’t wake him up. Before the birth there were no signs that anything was wrong with Charlie and Vickie was in good health. Pictured: Vickie with Charlie
However, a closer examination by doctors at Worthington Hospital revealed that he had no anal opening – a defect that occurs in about one in 5,000 babies. Since then he has had to undergo six life-changing surgeries
Ms Thompson, a beauty therapist, told MailOnline: “I was absolutely terrified, I thought he was going to die.”
“The doctors said, ‘We don’t think he has a chance.’ I was so scared.”
After doctors confirmed he had an imperforate anus – meaning it is narrow or non-existent – Charlie was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and the contents of his stomach were removed.
He was also taken to Brighton Hospital the next day, where doctors created a stoma.
A stoma is an opening in the abdomen that can be connected to either the digestive or urinary system. To prevent bowel movements, a bag may be placed over the stoma.
Charlie spent three days in the NICU after major surgery, two of which were in a coma.
It was only after seven days that Ms Thompson was able to take him home.
She said: “I was petrified I was going to lose him.”
“They had to put him on life support and I kept thinking he was going to die. “I kept thinking the worst.
“Becoming a mother for the first time is an experience anyway, so having the stoma too was difficult.”
She added: “It was very, very stressful and at times I felt quite lonely because people were afraid of dealing with the stoma, so I had to do everything.”
“Friends and family were afraid to change his stoma because they might do it wrong and cause an infection.
“They couldn’t handle the risk. “It was definitely tough.”
After doctors confirmed he had an imperforate anus – meaning it is narrow or non-existent – Charlie was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and the contents of his stomach were removed. The next day he was taken to Brighton Hospital where doctors created a stoma. A stoma is an opening in the abdomen that can be connected to either the digestive or urinary system. To prevent bowel movements, a bag may be placed over the stoma. In the picture Charlie with his ostomy bag
Charlie spent three days in the NICU after major surgery, two of which were in a coma. It was only after seven days that Ms Thompson was able to take him home. Pictured: Charlie after his operation
When Charlie was three months old, he returned to the hospital as doctors tried to create an opening in his bottom. However, this caused his stoma to stop working and he had to undergo an ileostomy, Ms Thompson claimed. During the operation, a piece of the ileum, the lowest part of the small intestine, is brought out from the abdominal wall to create a stoma. Pictured: Vickie with Charlie
When Charlie was three months old, he returned to the hospital as doctors tried to create an opening in his bottom.
However, this caused his stoma to stop working and he had to undergo an ileostomy, Ms Thompson claimed.
The operation This involves removing a piece of the ileum, the lowest part of the small intestine, from the abdominal wall to create a stoma.
The digested food then passes through the stoma into an external pouch rather than through the rectum and anus.
Ms Thompson said: “Charlie was very unwell and couldn’t eat for 11 days.”
“He was very vulnerable and malnourished.”
“The fluid coming out of the ileostomy was six times the amount entering his body, so he was given drops of fluid containing vitamins.”
Since then, he has had four more major surgeries, including the removal of a large portion of his dead intestine.
Doctors are currently under constant observation and are unsure whether he will ever be able to potty train, Ms Thompson claimed.
He is expected to live with the stoma for the rest of his life.
But Charlie was “such a happy baby,” she said.
She added: “This has caused him a lot of trauma.”
“The most important thing (for me) is to raise awareness and teach mothers how to examine their babies.” “Despite everything, he is such a happy baby.”