The miracle baby of a young couple survives an innovative spinal surgery

Georgia Axford, 19, and Tyler Kelly, 21, have taken out £ 9,000, so little can be done by Piper-Kohl in Germany, no British doctor He had practiced before.

The parents discovered that their daughter had a spina bifida, a flaw in the spine, at their 20-week scan.

The disease causes weakness or paralysis of the lower limbs, leaving patients dependent on crutches and, in severe cases, leaving patients in wheelchairs.

Piper was born prematurely at 30 weeks and four days, giving her the same birthday as her surgeon, Professor Thomas Kohl, who carried out the operation and who bears his name.

They will not know for sure how successful the operation was until Piper starts walking, but the doctors can not detect any sign of paralysis at the moment.

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 spine when she was born. This really makes you think how incredible the procedure was. I love being a mom.

"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. I am so happy that she is here. "

Georgia and Tyler were offered treatment on the NHS, but were informed that the operation would be performed by a surgeon who had never performed it before.

The couple ran to collect £ 9,000 ($ 16,000) and travel 570 km in Germany for this complex operation, which must be completed before 26 weeks.

During the three-hour operation on June 13, surgeons attached a 3.5-cm collagen patch, normally used to treat burn victims, over Piper's spine.

It covers the exposed nerves and should repair cognitive development and lower limbs, to prevent the bub from being paralyzed.

Piper was only expected on October 2, but Georgia began her work and was transported to Southmead Hospital in Bristol, where doctors performed an emergency caesarean section on July 28.

Piper was born nine weeks earlier at 9:31, weighing only 1.64 kg.

The girl spent the next two months in intensive care before being allowed to return home with her parents.

Georgia is remembered: "I woke up around 11 pm and I thought it was painful back 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 that she was fine in my ribcage. Looking back, she was probably getting ready.

"I could not hold her until 5:00 pm that night, because the nurses said I needed to rest.

"We will not know if the surgery has worked out fully until it starts to work, but all is well for the moment.

"In a few months, she will be able to sit on her own so that it can show if it worked."

Tyler, a proud father, added, "We were a bit worried when Georgia gave birth, but Piper was actually a lot bigger than expected.

"When she was born for the first time, there was a small red injury from the operation.

"It was not until we brought her home that we felt like real parents. Previously, all the nurses were around us, so we did not feel alone.

"Professor Thomas Kohl is an incredible guy and we wanted to name Piper after him. She was also born on her birthday, so everything went back to normal.

"We are still in touch with him and keep him up to date on Piper's progress and we would like to take Piper to Germany to meet him."

Georgia and Tyler have put together a fundraising page to help pay off the loan contracted for the transaction. You can donate here.

This article was originally published on The Sun and has been reproduced with permission.