Born tiny and too early, ‘miracle baby’ prepares to go home
The UAE’s largest maternity hospital – which handles more than 8,000 births a year – had since opening in 1977 not seen a child as small as Sumaya.
The Emirati girl was born a day short of 23 weeks, weighing 440 grams, or about as much as a medium-sized courgette.
Dr Hesham Tawakol, a consultant neonatologist, described her birth and recovery as a miracle.
“I had to tell the family that the baby had less than 5 per cent chance of surviving,” he said.
According to health regulations, babies born weighing less than 460 grams and at less than 23 weeks should not be resuscitated, because they have no chance of survival.
“We went to the operating room sure that the baby would not survive and with no intention of resuscitating, as per the regulation,” he said.
Dr Tawakol said that when he saw the baby kick her legs for a few seconds, he decided to resuscitate. “It was just for a few seconds and I was surprised, because babies born at the age and weight don’t have the energy to kick their legs,” he said.
After resuscitating her and pumping her with oxygen, Sumaya was moved to the neonatal intensive care ward.
“Babies born under these conditions almost always develop severe complications with their eyes, brain and lungs,” the consultant said.
But Sumaya developed no complications, despite requiring oxygen for her first few months in the incubator, from her birth in May until recently.
“It’s a miracle that she survived, because almost 100 per cent of babies die during the first day after birth, and a miracle that she developed no complications,” Dr Tawako said. The outcome is fantastic. We have never come across such a case before.”
Sumaya today weighs 3.24kg and is ready to go home with her family.
They have celebrated her good health and the news that she will soon leave the hospital, said Sumaya’s father, Humaid Al Menhali, who has three other children.
“All our children were born premature but no one came as early or small as Sumaya.
“We have a lot of faith and when my wife went into labour so early and the baby was born so small, we were sure she was going to survive and that was God’s will,” he said.
He said his wife did not shed a tear. “We are Bedouins and Bedouin women are tough. We accepted it with a broken heart,” he said of the initial news.
Even a week after her birth, Mr Al Menhali said he wasn’t sure she would survive.
“It’s God’s wish and we couldn’t be happier,” he said.