THE parents of baby born seven weeks premature without a heartbeat have told how they faced a heart-wrenching race against time to bring him back to life.
Demi Duffin and Charlie Hayes, from Sittingbourne, discovered they were expecting a baby last October.
Baby Luca was born seven weeks prematurely Credit: Cover Images
Demi Duffin and Charlie Hayes had to wait for the “longest hour” of their lives while Luca, underwent life-saving emergency surgery Credit: Cover Images
But three months into Demi’s pregnancy, scans taken at Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham found that their son Luca – a birth defect where allows organs to poke out.
After doctors reassured the young couple, that the condition affecting his bowels, was not severe, her pregnancy continued without issue.
On May 9, however, at 30 weeks pregnant, Demi, 17, discovered she couldn’t feel Luca move and rushed to Medway hospital.
After being transferred to London, scans were undertaken at St Thomas’s hospital and she was discharged home six days later.
Three months into Demi’s pregnancy, Charlie and Demi discovered that Luca had gastroschisis Credit: Cover Images
Luca was born with no heart rate Credit: Cover Images
Returning two days later to St Thomas’ for further scans, Demi claimed they were told Luca’s “bowels were fine” and they “would be monitored every few weeks at Medway”.
But less than a fortnight later on May 26, Demi could not feel Luca moving again and returned to hospital.
Doctors discovered that his heart rate had flatlined, meaning his heart had stopped pumping and he was born via emergency C-section seven weeks early.
When Luca was delivered, weighing three pounds and five ounces, Demi and Charlie endured the “longest hour” of their lives while their newborn, Luca, underwent life-saving emergency surgery.
Charlie, 19, said: “Seeing him born dead was so hard. It took the doctors around an hour to work on him.
“It’s the longest hour I’ve ever been through. But thank God the hospital brought him back to life.”
After the surgery, Luca was rushed to The Royal London Hospital with Charlie by ambulance, while Demi recovered from her surgery.
Determined to be with her baby, Demi discharged herself from Medway hospital just eight hours after having the C-section against medical advice.
Doctors had told her she needed to be monitored for 24 hours.
“There was nothing stopping me from being with my Luca,” she said.
Demi’s sister drove her in pain to The Royal London, where she was reunited with Charlie and Luca.
“She was waddling towards me like a penguin and I ran up to her and hugged her,” Charlie said.
Luca underwent three different surgeries after birth Credit: Cover Images What is gastroschisis and what are the risks?
Gastroschisis is a condition where the baby develops a defect (hole) in the abdominal wall during development, while still inside the womb.
This is usually to the right side of the umbilical cord and some of the bowel escapes through this hole and continues to develop outside your baby’s abdomen.
This happens in approximately 1 in 3,000 births.
There is an increased chance that your baby will be born premature and low in weight.
There are two important issues after birth:
- Returning the bowel back into the abdomen and repairing the defect. This is either by a primary or staged procedure (these terms will be explained later.)
- Establishing your baby onto milk feeds. This can often take a long time (several weeks to months) as the bowel which was outside the abdomen may not work properly. By a drip your baby will be given nutrition.
Source: The NHS
“When she got up to Luca, her face instantly lit back up. It was like she didn’t just have surgery.”
Luca underwent surgery to ensure his bowels were inside his body and had two further operations on May 30 and June 3.
While still now in hospital, he was taken off a ventilator, which had helped him breathe, last week.
Charlie said: “Me and Demi got to hold him the other day and got to do skin-to-skin contact for the first time.
“That was amazing. It was quite literally like holding my world in my hands. I’ll never forget that moment.
“But the doctors have told us not to keep our hopes up, as at any time his condition could worsen.
“All we can do is keep praying. We don’t know when he will be able to come home. But doctors said it will be a long time.”
Charlie had been working for a removal company before Demi gave birth, but is now unable to work as the couple are spending six days a week at hospital to be with Luca.
They are being supported by The Sick Children’s Trust, in Whitechapel, which gives families with poorly children a place to stay free of charge.
But they are now relying on their family to support them financially and have launched a GoFundMe page .
To date, they have raised almost £1,000.
Charlie added: “Thank you to everyone who has donated already. We are so grateful to anyone else who does decide to donate to help us.
“We will forever keep your kindness in our .”
Gastroschisis occurs when a child’s abdomen does not develop fully while in the womb, affecting roughly one in every 3,000 babies.
It is not known .
In many cases, it can be visible on ultrasound scanning, allowing time for discussion and planning for when and where to give birth.
According to the , many children with gastroschisis are born prematurely, often at around 35 weeks.
Most are induced at around 37 weeks as there are increased risks after this time.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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