Local medical specialists are applauding a major breakthrough in the treatment of a rare foetal condition.
Two-week-old Baby Timothy got to spend his birthday at home after undergoing an unprecedented medical procedure.
Suzanne Clarke was 31 weeks pregnant when her son went into cardiac failure.
Doctors found a build-up of fluids pushing against his lungs and heart.
The rare condition, known as Hydrops Fetalis, affects one in every 15-thousand unborn babies.
To save Timothy's life, doctors had to operate while he was still in his mother's womb.
They drained the fluid from Suzanne's abdomen, which eased the pressure on Timothy's organs.
Specialists say the pioneering medical procedure is a major breakthrough, as it means the condition is treatable.
Dr Ismail Bhorate, a Foetal Medicine Specialist who was part of the
team attending to the procedure said, "I think previously when a foetus
had severe Hydrops Fetalis we wouldn't do much and we would like say let
nature take its course."
"But in this case, it has changed our perception on how we treat
foetuses with Hydrops Fetalis, so I think it has opened the doors for
the others to do the same."
Despite his once life threatening condition, recent scans have shown signs of great improvement in little Timothy.
-eNCA
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