A US baby born with his heart outside of his body is now reportedly thriving after defying doctors’ expectations of an early death.
Ezekiel Conseco was born with the condition Pentalogy of Cantrell, considered to be “almost universally” fatal.
It can cause a number of severe birth defects affecting the diaphragm, abdomen, chest and heart.
Universally fatal
It’s not selfish wanting your baby to be here
Amaya Conseco
Ezekiel’s condition was first noticed during an ultrasound scan and doctors were shocked at what they saw.
Dr Van Bohman had only seen the condition six times in his medical career spanning more than three decades, and described the condition as “almost universally” fatal.
He said: “These kids never survive, in fact this is the only one I’ve ever seen that has survived.”
Medical advice
Dr Bohman helped Ezekiel’s mother, Desteny, to understand that it was alright for her to choose life for her child.
“I was thinking, ‘Am I being selfish for me to want him to be born for him to go through all this?’” she said.
“But then I talked to Dr Bohman and he explained to me it’s not selfish wanting your baby to be here.”
Ezekiel has since undergone several procedures to stretch the skin and push his heart back into his chest.
Birthday
After spending the first two months of his life in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Sunrise Hospital, Las Vegas, he is now reported to be “thriving.”
He recently celebrated his first birthday and doctors are extremely pleased with the progress he has made.
“Is he going to grow up and have a job, and be a father, and have a rewarding life? He will,” said Dr. Bohman.
“I think he’s looking really well. There might be some things that need to be tweeked down the road but right now he’s doing great,” he added.
Choose Life
Currently in Great Britain, abortion is allowed up to 24 weeks, but up to birth if the child is severely disabled.
In the Christian Institute’s ‘Choose Life’ series, we highlighted the case of Melanie and Damien Sheenan from Northern Ireland.
They were put under ‘immense pressure’ to abort their baby Joshua after a mistaken diagnosis of fatal foetal abnormality.
But the diagnosis was “completely inaccurate” and their child was born without any major complications.
