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Rare Medical Procedure Leads to “Twice-Born” Baby
In an extraordinary medical event, ten-week-old Rafferty Isaac is being hailed as a miracle baby by his parents, Lucy and Adam. Born in Reading, UK, Rafferty’s unique arrival into the world is due to a groundbreaking surgical procedure necessitated by his mother’s ovarian cancer diagnosis during pregnancy. This remarkable story highlights advancements in medical surgery and offers hope amidst challenging health crises.
Diagnosis and Radical Surgical Intervention
Lucy, aged 32, received a devastating diagnosis of ovarian cancer at 12 weeks into her pregnancy following a routine ultrasound. Doctors at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford expressed serious concerns that delaying cancer treatment until after Rafferty’s birth could lead to the tumour spreading, posing a significant threat to Lucy’s life. However, standard keyhole surgery was not feasible due to the advanced stage of her pregnancy.
Facing a critical situation, a medical team led by surgeon Hooman Soleymani Majd proposed a bold and innovative operation. This involved carefully extracting Lucy’s uterus, while still containing her unborn baby, from her abdomen. This allowed surgeons to gain access to and excise the cancerous cells located on both ovaries, situated behind the womb.
The Delicate Operation
This complex procedure, carrying potential risks for both mother and child, is rarely performed globally. Mr. Soleymani Majd had only conducted it four times in the preceding decade. Lucy, a special needs teacher, and Adam, a 42-year-old musician and former television contestant, bravely entrusted their faith in the medical team and agreed to the high-risk operation, which took place in October.
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At ten weeks old, Rafferty Isaac (centre) is a specially miraculous bundle of joy to parents Lucy (left) and Adam (right) – because he was born twice
During the extraordinary operation, the womb, which remained connected to the uterine artery to maintain blood supply and oxygen, is held in the hands of two medics
Lucy, 32, was 12 weeks pregnant when she received the devastating cancer diagnosis after a routine ultrasound scan
A Success Story
Mr. Soleymani Majd described this operation as his most intricate to date, as Lucy’s tumours were identified as grade two, indicating cancer cells had spread into surrounding tissues. During the five-hour surgery in her 20th week of pregnancy, surgeons carefully removed Lucy’s womb to target the cancerous cells. Crucially, the womb remained connected to the uterine artery, ensuring continuous blood flow and oxygen supply to Rafferty throughout the procedure. It also remained attached to the left fallopian tube and cervix.
The womb, approximately the size of a football, was enveloped in sterile, warm saline packs to mimic the internal bodily environment and maintain optimal temperature. Two medical professionals diligently held the womb throughout the operation, constantly monitoring Rafferty’s heart rate and temperature. Saline packs were replaced every 20 minutes if his temperature decreased.
Pathologists examined a sample of the tumour and confirmed it was grade two cancer. Mr. Soleymani Majd’s previous similar surgeries had involved less complex grade one tumours. After successfully removing the cancerous tissue, Lucy’s womb was gently repositioned, saline packs were removed, and her abdomen was sutured closed.
It was Mr. Soleymani Majd’s (pictured) most complex procedure yet because her tumours were found to be grade two – which means cancer cells had also invaded tissues surrounding the ovaries
Doctors at the John Radcliffe feared if they waited until Rafferty was born before treating her tumour, it would be likely to spread and pose a risk to Lucy’s life
“Born Again”
In total, Lucy’s womb was outside her body for two hours – twice as long as Mr. Soleymani Majd’s prior similar operations. Rafferty was safely “born again” at the end of January, weighing 6lb 5oz. Weeks later, Lucy and Rafferty revisited John Radcliffe Hospital to express their gratitude to Mr. Soleymani Majd.
Mr. Soleymani Majd remarked on the emotional experience, stating, “It felt as if I had met him previously. It was a rare and a very emotional experience for me.”
Overcoming Adversity
The birth of Rafferty was especially poignant for the family, as Adam had only been able to consider starting a family after receiving a life-changing kidney transplant from a friend in November 2022. Adam shared, “To finally hold Rafferty in our arms after everything we have been through was the most amazing moment.”
Ovarian Cancer Awareness
Lucy feels profoundly fortunate that her ovarian cancer was diagnosed and treated, despite experiencing no symptoms. Ovarian cancer affects approximately 7,000 women annually in the UK, with a concerning two-thirds diagnosed at a late stage, making treatment more challenging. Tragically, over 4,000 women in the UK succumb to this disease each year.
Looking to the Future
Adam is now preparing to participate in the British Transplant Games, scheduled to be held in Oxford in July, marking another positive step forward for the family after navigating significant health challenges.