For Latifa and her husband, bringing their newborn home after a challenging birth is a true miracle. Their child, who faced numerous hurdles, including critical interventions in the womb and a significant surgery at just six days old, demonstrated remarkable resilience. After a 135-day stay in the NICU at Burjeel Medical City (BMC) in Abu Dhabi, the infant overcame all challenges and was finally discharged to return home with his parents.
The baby's parents, an Emirati couple from Al Ain, are deeply relieved by his recovery, which followed a complex medical journey that started even before his birth. The couple was thrilled to learn they were expecting their first child after five years of marriage, following a successful IVF procedure. However, their joy turned to worry at a 12-week scan when it was revealed that the baby had a diaphragmatic defect, causing his bowel and liver to move into the thorax.
This diagnosis was a significant setback for the couple. "It was hard to accept that our baby might not survive due to his severe health condition or that the pregnancy might not reach completion," Latifa recalled. They sought expert advice and consulted Dr. Mandeep Singh, a consultant in Fetal Maternal Medicine and Obstetrics at the Kypros Nicolaides Fetal Medicine and Therapy Center at BMC. Realizing that specialized care was available domestically, they opted not to seek treatment abroad.
As the pregnancy progressed, it became evident that the defect was severe, leading to significant compression of both lungs. The survival rate for the baby with such a serious defect was estimated at 10-15 percent. Their only hope was a complex in-utero procedure known as FETO, which involves placing a balloon in the baby's trachea to promote lung growth. Dr. Singh led the team of doctors managing the case, which included specialists in neonatology, obstetric anesthesiology, otorhinolaryngology, pediatric surgery, and pediatric intensive care.
Initially, Latifa was filled with fear and anxiety when she learned about the intervention that would occur while the baby was still in the womb. However, reassured by the medical team, the couple proceeded with the procedure. At 27 weeks of gestation, the procedure was successfully carried out with the assistance of Dr. Mauricio Herrera, a visiting fetal medicine specialist. Despite a subsequent setback with preterm labor and amniotic fluid leakage, the pregnancy continued under close medical supervision, with Latifa remaining in the hospital.
At 34 weeks, during labor, the medical team performed a specialized EXIT procedure, allowing the baby to be partially delivered while still connected to the placenta. This enabled the medical team to stabilize the baby's breathing before full delivery. Dr. Irfan Basha then punctured the balloon and inserted an endotracheal tube to assist the baby's breathing. The baby was subsequently delivered and transferred to the NICU, where he underwent major surgical repair of the diaphragm at six days old.
For Latifa, witnessing her baby in the NICU brought a mix of emotions—pain, joy, and fear. The couple made daily trips from Al Ain to Abu Dhabi to support their baby and ensure he received the best care. "It was a tough period, but my husband and family gave me the strength to believe it would get better. The hospital became like a second family, offering us compassionate care. I am thankful to the UAE for its advanced healthcare system, which allowed us to remain close to our loved ones," Latifa expressed.
After four-and-a-half months, the baby was ready to go home. "We are delighted with the baby's significant improvement. Over the past months, he has overcome critical health challenges thanks to our team's collaborative efforts to provide the best care. We hope to continue offering this treatment to other babies in similar situations," said Dr. Mandeep.
