Photo credit: Michael Clancy
The tiny hand of a fetus
reaches out from a mother's womb to clasp a surgeon's healing finger. It
shows a 21-week-old fetus in its mother's womb, about to undergo a
spine operation designed to save it from serious brain damage (by the
way, at 21 weeks old, this baby could still be legally aborted). The
tiny hand in the picture above belongs to a baby which was due to be
born on December 28. It was taken during an operation in America
recently. The baby is literally hanging on for life. For this is one of
the most remarkable photographs taken in medicine and a record of one
of the world's most extraordinary operations. The surgery was carried
out entirely through the tiny slit visible in the wall of the womb and
the `patient' is believed to be the youngest to undergo it.
12/9/99
Dear Friends and Family,
Samuel
arrived on Thursday, Dec. 2 at 6:25 pm at Northside Hospital weighing 5
lbs 11 oz and 20 1/2 " long. He was born at 36 weeks but came into the
world screaming his head off! He did not have to spend any time in a
neonatal unit and came home with us on Monday, Dec. 6. After viewing an
ultrasound of his brain, Samuel's neurosurgeon was very optimistic as
he does not have any hydrocephalus and the brain malformation has
resolved. He is moving his legs very well from the hips and some from
the knees. He was frank breech (folded in half) in the womb and the
orthopedist feels that he has a good chance for walking. He will begin
physical therapy next week in order to work out some of the stiffness in
his legs that was a result of his being folded in half in the womb. He
is also nursing very well.
Thank you all for your prayers and support. We are happier than we ever dreamed possible!
All our love,
Julie, Alex and Samuel Armas
Photo credit: Michael Clancy
