‘Miracle baby’ is born after living for 107 days in the womb of his brain-dead mother who suffered a stroke while pregnant and was kept on a ventilator until he was delivered
- Sandra Pedro, 37, was rushed into hospital in Lisbon on February 20
- She was declared brain dead hours later but doctors kept her body alive
- Baby Lourenco was born 107 days later and has been declared a 'miracle'
Sandra Pedro (pictured) was declared brain dead on February 20 but her body was kept alive until her baby could be delivered on June 7
A 'miracle baby' has been delivered 107 days after his mother was declared brain dead by doctors in Portugal.
Sandra Pedro, 37, arrived at a hospital in Lisbon on February 20 with a terrible headache. A few hours later she was pronounced brain dead after suffering a stroke.
She was 17 weeks pregnant at the time and it was initially thought the baby had also died.
But when doctors in the intensive care unit found signs of life they decided to keep her body alive and see if they could deliver the baby alive.
Sandra was effectively kept alive as a 'living incubator'.
She had tubes to feed her, keep her breathing and supply essential hormones.
Nurses and doctors watched in amazement over the next 15 weeks as Sandra's belly and breasts grew as they nurtured the child inside her.
But staff at Lisbon's San Jose Hospital also cuddled her belly, massaged it, whispered to baby Lourenco and even sang songs and nursery rhymes in a bid to replicate the love he would have got from his mother.
Nurse Nuno Camilo told the Daily Mirror: 'He liked the singing best, that's when he moved the most. She was in a room on her own so we sang songs from our own childhood.
'We would cuddle the tummy to feel the baby moving and stimulate him.'
When baby Lourenco finally arrived alive and weighing in at a healthy 5lb 2oz on June 7 cheers erupted from the staff.
But their tears of joy were also tears of sadness as they knew they would have to switch off the ventilator which was keeping Sandra alive.
Sandra's death was a tragedy but the staff at San Jose Hospital (pictured, left to right, nurse Nuno Gomes, Dr Susana Alfonso and nurse Nuno Camilo) managed to bring about a miracle
Nuno Gomes, another nurse, said: 'We were all elated and all crying. We talked a lot about it and we said she'd given her life to the baby - literally. He was getting her soul.
'Something strange was going on and it was different from anything we'd ever seen before. It was a miracle.'
Dr Susana Alfonso, 40, who delivered the baby, said: 'It was a surprise because she was dead and normally when the mother dies the baby dies also.
'The nurses provided the love the mother could not. They were the first to tell us the baby was still moving in the morning. Of course it was like our baby.'
Lourenco's father, Miguel Angelo Faria, 30, a factory worker, said: 'He managed to save himself. This baby is going to give meaning to my life.'
Sandra was buried the day after Lourenco was born and at her funeral her distraught mother sobbed: 'I want my daughter back. My dear daughter.'
Sandra's parents are planning to raise the child but Miguel says he will see him every day.
Dr Alfonso said: 'It is the family that matters in this case. I hope everything goes OK. This boy needs all their help.'
Most watched News videos
- Turkey: Cat carries kitten to doctor for eye infection treatment
- Homeless man cries after receiving envelope with donated money
- 'B*****!' Builder's homophobic attack on 'frightened' gay couple
- Moment 'Saudi F-15 shoots down a Houthi Qasef-series drone'
- Asian woman repeatedly stomped on during random attack
- Two killed after Cessna 'air taxi' nosedives and crashes into lagoon
- Builders sing 'I just called to say I'll b** you' next to gay couple
- 'Good day for it!' Queen makes first public appearance of the year
- 'Are they chasing Russians?' Queen probes pilots about RAF jets
- Alex Salmond faces a brutal grilling over his past conduct
- Manchester's Castlefield Bowl crowded with revellers having party
- Emmanuel Macron announces expansion of lockdown rules in France
The comments below have not been moderated.
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
We are no longer accepting comments on this article.