A baby named Theo underwent a revolutionary medical procedure while still in the womb to correct a severe birth defect. His mother, Maisie Savage from London, was 26 weeks pregnant when surgeons in the United States performed the operation. Theo was born with gastroschisis, a condition where the abdominal wall fails to close correctly, leaving the intestines exposed outside the body.
The surgical team, led by Dr. Michael Belfort at Texas Children’s Hospital, utilized keyhole techniques to gently return the organs to the abdomen. Theo is only the third infant globally to participate in this specific clinical trial. Before the procedure in Texas, Maisie received a specialized Botox injection at Leuven Hospital in Belgium to relax the fetal muscles, which helped facilitate the repair.
Following the successful intervention, Maisie carried the pregnancy to term, and Theo was delivered vaginally in February. Now five months old, the infant is thriving, and his parents, Maisie and Josh French, credit the international medical collaboration for his healthy start. Experts, including Professor Paolo de Coppi from Great Ormond Street Hospital, hope to expand this surgical practice to the UK in the future, potentially opening doors for treating other conditions like cardiac or lung issues before birth.
