Some of you may remember this story. - 21 week old fetus in surgary.

mummyof2boyz wrote: For those of you who did not see it,I will post it again along with an update I found.





Take a good look at this picture. It's one of the most remarkable photographs ever taken. The tiny hand of a fetus reaches out from a mother's womb to clasp a surgeon's healing finger. It is, by the way, 21 weeks old, an age at which it could still be legally aborted. The tiny hand in the picture above belongs to a baby which is due to be born on December 28 [1999]. It was taken during an operation in America recently. It is a medical development in the control of the effects of spina bifida ... and on a picture which will reverberate through the on-going abortion debate here.

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.
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.
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.
At that age the mother could have chosen to have the fetus aborted. Her decision not to, however, led to an astonishing test not just of medical technology, but of faith.
Samuel Armas has spina bifida, which left part of his spinal cord exposed after the backbone failed to develop. The operation was designed to close the gap and protect the cord, the body's motorway for nerve signals to the brain.

mummyof2boyz replied: Update


Dear Friends and Family,

Samuel arrived on Thursday, Dec. 2 [1999] 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

chloe&tysmommy replied: awe hes cute that is sooo amazing! wow!

CantWait replied: what an amazing story

MommyToAshley replied: I remember seeing that picture and reading the story... I cried then and I just cried now. The picture alone is worth a thousand words and soooo breathtaking. What an amazing story and amazing little guy.

aspenblue1 replied: That is so amazing.

Kirstenmumof3 replied: That is just amazing! He was born almost 4 years ago, how is he doing today? What a little sweetheart. I'm just in tears!

MomToMany replied: Wow! That's amazing they can even ATTEMPT something like that. And to have it turn out great is a miracle!

That's about how big my baby is right now. I'm so glad everything worked out well for him and his family.

He was born on the same day as my Ethan, too! Ethan was born at 6:02 pm and Samuel was born at 6:25 pm!

Hillbilly Housewife replied: That's so awesom! I have that same picture saved on my comp at home... it's so emotional!

BTW - love your avatar.... Orlando Bloom is one hunk-a-hunk of burnin love!!

Kaitlin'smom replied: that is amazing, but I do wonder almost 4 years later how he is doing.

I love that picture. It made me cry

0-10andbackagain replied: Thats amazing!

taylor&zachsmom replied: I remember this story. But for some reason I was thinking that it was just recently that I saw it on the news. Like just a few months ago? Well, I am glad to hear that the baby is doing well and in physical therapy.

Christine

Kristigirl replied: How incredible!! I've seen that picture before but never seen an update or anything, that's awesome that he did so well at birth. What a fighter!!

iluvmysweetiepies replied: What an amazing story!! That is a breathtaking picture