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Premature baby survived despite doctors’ predictions: details
The doctors were sure that the newborn boy would die, but he survived.
Mikey Barone was born on July 5, 2017. But he left the hospital walls only 545 days later. All this time, the boy’s parents, Michael and Christina, fought for his life – including with doctors.
“I was six months old when they told me that I have dangerously high blood pressure, so I need to do a cesarean – urgently, right now. Otherwise, my kidneys and liver could have failed, ”says Christina.
So Mikey was born – 15 weeks ahead of schedule.
Mikey’s parents simply did not find a place for themselves. After all, this boy was their firstborn – 40-year-old Michael and 37-year-old Christina were treated for infertility for four and a half years, the woman suffered a miscarriage and finally managed to conceive.
“I couldn’t believe my happiness when I saw two strips on the test. I thought that now everything will be fine, but … ”- Christina recalls.
The newborn baby weighed only 737 grams, he could not breathe and eat on his own. Mikey’s lungs were so weak that doctors advised to disconnect him from the ventilator: if he can survive in his mother’s arms, then he can. But, in essence, it meant just letting the baby die. Parents could not take such a step. Who could?
Christina spent every night in the hospital next to her son. For more than 500 days, she has never been home.
“I couldn’t be anywhere other than Mikey. He looked like a tiny baby doll, with a large head, tiny legs and arms. We prayed for a miracle every day, ”she quotes .
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and airway weakness – with these diagnoses, Mikey was transferred from the hospital to a major medical center.
The family hoped to be discharged by Christmas, but doctors said the child needed additional surgeries. Therefore, the parents decorated the ward with festive garlands and celebrated the holiday right in the hospital.
And now, a year and a half after birth, the boy is finally ready to go home – despite the fact that he still cannot eat himself, he is fed through a tube.
“My son, my hero, my strength, my love. He did it, he did it! ” – Christina was happy.
“Now I would like to see those doctors who suggested that we abandon our son. I’ll be happy to take him out for a walk when it gets warmer. He finally learns that there is a whole world behind the hospital walls, which he has not yet had the opportunity to see, ”says Christina.
Now the boy’s parents are collecting donations to pay hospital bills: a lot of them have accumulated during Mikey’s treatment. According to preliminary estimates, more than a million dollars will have to be paid. But Christina and Michael do not lose heart: after all, they have many examples before their eyes when literally the whole world helped the kids fighting for life.
What is premature birth and what is the risk to the baby?
Approximately 10% of all pregnancies in the world end in premature birth, that is, before the 37th week. When this happens, not all of the baby’s organs, including the heart and lungs, have time to develop normally. Premature babies can also be small and low in body weight. This often means that they are not ready for life outside the womb.
Premature birth is the leading cause of infant mortality in the United States and England. This is approximately 1500 deaths annually, and another 17% of newborns die from complications later. Premature babies usually try to go out in special centers of intensive neonatal therapy.
If the embryo is less than 22 weeks old, the chances of survival are close to zero.
22 weeks – about 10%
24 weeks – about 60%
27 weeks – about 89%
31 weeks – about 95%
34 weeks is equivalent to full term