‘Miracle Baby’ goes home after transfusion
SAVED from a life-threatening condition by an advanced in-utero keyhole blood transfusion procedure at 25 weeks while still in his mother’s womb, baby Mihle Biyela’s parents were overjoyed last week to take their healthy son home.
Mihle, born on February 12, is regarded as a “miracle baby” by his parents Phiwayinkosi Biyela and Ntombenhle Biyela, after they were warned that he, still a foetus, suffered from hydrops fetalis, which is characterised by a fluid build-up around the heart, lungs and other locations, and was unlikely to survive.
Ntombenhle sought a second opinion from gynaecologist and obstetrician Dr Bongani Mazibuko at Netcare St Augustine’s Hospital after it was recommended that her pregnancy be terminated.
Mazibuko contacted Dr Ismael Bhorat, KwaZulu-Natal’s only foetal specialist in private practice, for assistance. The diagnosis of foetal anaemia was made using advanced sonographic and Doppler techniques investigating the peak flow velocity in an artery in the brain.
“Hydrops fetalis can be caused by a variety of different underlying conditions, which can result in a myriad of potential complications. The prognosis for the foetus is dependent on establishing the exact cause and then treating it early and appropriately. Without this, the condition is almost invariably fatal for the foetus,” Bhorat said.
He led the team who performed an in-utero keyhole blood transfusion procedure called an IUT (intrauterine blood transfusion).
Grateful for their little survivor, the Biyela family decided to name the baby “Mihle Imisebenzi kaNkulunkulu”, which translated from Zulu means “Beautiful work of God”.
“It has been a difficult and painful journey with Mihle, as we were originally warned that he had very little chance of surviving,” Ntombenhle said.
“Through the mercy of God and thanks to the wonderful care of the doctors and nurses, we were overjoyed to be taking Mihle home. I can’t wait to spend more time with him, as a mom needs to bond with her son,” she added.
According to Bhorat, what baby Mihle’s case highlights is that with accurate diagnosis and early and appropriate specialised intervention, there is hope for many hydrops babies. The identification of the causes of the condition is critical, however, as these have to be addressed to have a chance of resolving the hydrops fluid build-up.