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A baby who has undergone a pioneering operation at the spine while he is still in the womb to prevent him from being disabled is born in perfect health.
Georgia Axford, 19, and Tyler Kelly, 21, discovered that their daughter Piper-Kohl was suffering from a spina bifida – a gap in the spine – during the 20-week analysis.
The couple, originally from Yate, in South Gloucestershire, learned that the only treatment available in the UK was a surgical procedure performed by a doctor who had never performed the operation before.
Piper-Kohl Kelly was born prematurely at 30 weeks and four days – and now shares an anniversary and a name with Professor Thomas Kohl, the surgeon who performed the operation.
They will not know for sure if the operation was a complete success until it started to work – but until now, doctors can not see any sign of a problem and she is totally healthy.
Spina bifida causes weakness or paralysis of the lower limbs, leaving patients dependent on supports or crutches and, in severe cases, in wheelchairs.
Georgia, a proud mother, said, "She was covered with electric wires from birth, but it was the best feeling to see her. She was so small.
"You could really see the mark on her back when she was born. This really makes you think how incredible the procedure was.
"We named Piper after the surgeon to thank him for everything he's done.
"Honestly, I would recommend the operation to anyone who is a boat similar to us.
"It was a little scary at the time and it was a lot of money, but it was worth it."
The doctors told Georgia and Tyler that the treatment was available in the UK, but the procedure would be performed by a surgeon who had never performed the operation before.
In a race against the clock, they took a loan of £ 9,000 and traveled 570 miles in Germany for this complex operation, which must be completed before 26 weeks.
The operation, which lasted three hours, saw surgeons insert a "fetoscope" – a small telescope with a camera, a lamp and two instruments – through a hole in Georgia's abdomen.
Surgeons attached a 3.5 cm collagen patch used to treat burns on Piper's spine while she only had 2.1 oz.
The patch covers the exposed nerves and will repair the cognitive and lower limb development to prevent the baby's paralysis.
After the successful operation of June 13, the couple returned home where Georgia was asked to rest until October 2.
But the day of their follow-up review, six weeks later, Georgia began work.
She was transported to Southmead Hospital, Bristol, where doctors performed an emergency Caesarean section delivering Piper-Kohl at 9:31 am on July 28, weighing 3 lbs. 10 oz.
Born nine weeks before term, she spent the next two months in intensive care before being allowed to return home.
In a wink of emotion to Professor Thomas Kohl, the new parents baptized their daughter by the name of the pioneering physician.
Georgia, proud of her mother, was also born prematurely and said, "I woke up around 11 pm and just thought I had back pain, so I went back to bed.
"But at 12:30, I had intense contractions. Tyler brought me to the hospital and he was great because he stayed very calm.
"It was weird because we had a CT scan that day and it was in my ribcage.
& # 39; Looking back, she was probably getting ready to go out.
"I could not hold her until 5 pm that night because the nurses said I needed to rest.
"We will not know if the operation has fully worked until it starts to work, but all is well for now.
"In a few months, she will be able to sit on her own so it can help show if it works."
Tyler, a proud father, said, "We were a little concerned when Georgia gave birth but Piper was much bigger than expected.
"When she was born for the first time, the operation carried a small red sore.
"It was only when we brought her home that we felt like good parents. Before, we had all the nurses around us, so we did not feel alone.
"Professor Thomas Kohl is an incredible guy. She was also born on her birthday, so everything went back to normal.
& # 39; We are always in touch with him and let him know about Piper's progress. We would like to take Piper to Germany so that she can meet him.
Georgia and Tyler have put in place a fundraising page to help repay the loan that they have contracted for the transaction.
Source and images: dailymail.co.uk
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