Baby girl born with her bowel OUTSIDE her tummy survives after two-year wait for op to put it back in place
A LITTLE girl born with her bowel OUTSIDE her body survived for two years with football-sized growth protruding from her tummy.
Jacey Pollock was born with the life-threatening condition, and has spent her life in and out of hospital.
Now eight, little Jacey's battle to survive is not over.
Just two weeks ago, after yet another operation the youngster had to be put in a coma to recover.
But days later, her heart stopped and medics had to bring her back to life.
Mum Jennifer was told at her 12-week scan there was something wrong with her unborn baby girl.
Medics spotted some of her organs were growing outside of her tummy, a condition known as gastroschisis.
In Jacey's case, some of her organs - including her bowel - grew outside of her body, but were encased in the peritoneum, a membrane that usually lines the inside of the abdomen.
She said: “When Jacey was born in 2009, she was born with her organs outside of her body.
“I researched the condition and saw it wasn’t that uncommon.
“Other children had theirs put back almost straight away, but we had to wait until Jacey was two for her to be operated on.
“All she has known her life is going to and from the hospital for operations."
Jacey's most recent op was cosmetic surgery on her tummy.
The eight-year-old was put into a medically-induced coma by doctors, to allow her body time to recover.
Mum Jennifer recalled: "The plan was to not wake her up for three days because she had so much work done.
“But the day after, they lost her heartbeat.
"I could see her through the window and them performing CPR on her.
“She managed to pull through and now all we have to go back for is check ups and change of dressings.
“Jacey is a little miracle.”
Jennifer has suffered multiple miscarriages and three stillbirths before becoming pregnant with Jacey.
She added: “I’ve always had complicated pregnancies.
"It was heartbreak after heartbreak.
OUR LITTLE MIRACLE Baby girl born with her bowel OUTSIDE her body survives after doctors wrap her in 'clingfilm'
“I have suffered multiple miscarriages and in 1995 and 1996 I lost two little boys.
"In 1998 I also lost a little girl.
“Jacey has overcome so much. She was born five weeks premature and weighed just 3.5lbs.”
Jennifer said Jacey’s care at Great Ormond Street Hospital has been "amazing".
A RARE BIRTH DEFECT THAT CAN KILL
GASTROSCHISIS is a rare birth defect that affects an unborn baby's abdominal wall.
It occurs when a baby's abdomen fails to develop properly while they are in the womb.
By around week 11 of most pregnancies a baby's intestine has developed inside the umblicial cord, and moved inside the abdomen.
But, in baby's with gastroschisis, the abdominal wall doesn't form completely so the intestines can develop outside and are open to the air when the child is born.
This increases their risk of life-threatening infections.
Scientists do not know exactly what is to blame for the condition, but it is becoming increasingly more common in young mums.
However, the condition is still considered rare, affecting around one in every 3,000 babies born each year.
The 46-year-old said: “While she was being treated at Great Ormond Street, she met Peter Andre, Jessie J and other stars.
“The hospital have been fantastic with her.
“It has been such a long process but I’m so proud of her.
“She has stayed strong throughout and is such a smiley girl.
“The first thing she wants to do now she is better is to go on a bouncy castle.
“I’m trying to arrange a little party with some help, but it seems mission impossible at the minute.
“Hopefully she can now live the life a young girl should lead.”
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