It is always devastating to hear of accidents involving mothers-to-be, but we are relieved to be able to report some very positive news from one such story.
According to reports this morning, a Portuguese baby is healthy and thriving after being delivered almost four months after his mother was left brain-dead.
The unnamed woman reportedly suffered a brain haemorrhage in February and has been on life support ever since.
The BBC reports that hospital staff looking after the woman decided to keep the child in the womb, as tests showed that he was healthy. The child’s father, of course, had to consent to going ahead with the pregnancy.
The baby boy, whose named has not been revealed, was born yesterday, at 32 weeks, via Caesarean section. He weighed in at 5lbs 3oz and is said to be in good health.
It is not yet known whether or not the mother remains on life support.
Of course, this is not the first time that such a report has hit the headlines around the world. In April, doctors successfully delivered the child of a Polish woman who had been pronounced brain-dead for 55 days up to the birth. The woman’s life support was switched off hours later.
We are thinking of the family at this bittersweet time.
