The Girl Who Was "Born" Twice

A Medical Miracle Saves Baby's Life From Life-Threatening Tumor

(CBS)  At four weeks old, Macie McCartney has already had two birthdays.

That's remarkable, considering there was a time her parents feared she'd never see even one, CBS News correspondent Kelly Cobiella reports.

Four months into Keri McCartney's pregnancy, doctors spotted a tumor growing on the baby's tailbone - a rare and, in Macie's case, fatal condition striking one in 35,000 babies.

"At that point we didn't know - we didn't know what was going to happen," Keri said. "We just felt all alone, who will take us, who will help us through this."

The McCartneys found Texas Children's Fetal Center on the Internet - one of only a handful of hospitals in the world performing prenatal surgery.

The tumor was stealing blood from Macie, weakening her heart. So, at 25 weeks, surgeons cut into Keri's abdomen, pulled out the entire uterus -- and then half of Macie. The tumor was the size of a grapefruit.

"I felt like, 'whoa, this is huge,'" a surgeon said. "I mean, my hands are big and that tumor filled my hand."

Surgeons carefully cut away the non-cancerous tumor, monitoring Macie's heart and pumping saline into the womb where the other half of her body was tucked inside.

"We don't bring the whole baby out of the womb because we don't want the uterus to think the pregnancy is over and the baby's coming out," said Dr. Oluyinka Olutoye of Texas Children's Hospital.

Once free of the tumor, Macee was placed back in the womb, where she recovered and grew for a record 10 more weeks.

Aside from this scar on her backside, Macie is a strong newborn with a healthy future.

"We definitely had hope, but at the same time there's those times things don't go your way and God has other plans," Keri said.

Which is why "Hope" is Macie's middle name - given to her the first time she was born. Now, 14 weeks later, she's finally going home to Laredo Saturday.

[NoHateSpeak]

I wonder how it would have turned out if the mother didn't have insurance....

[avigil2]

This "...God has other plans" line is a bunch of C.R.A.P. Thank goodness (or whatever) that this baby was able to survive having been operating on the way she was. It''s not in "God''s plan" to carry new life to full term than have him/her take it away just like that. I find this so iritating.

[mswolfestock]

I''m glad that this child was saved by sophisticated, modern medical science. What a brave bunch of doctors. It''s one thing to have the equipment and training to perform miracles, but without the doctors, this wouldn''t be possible. God Bless them all.

[ajaxrose1]

Beautiful!

[bmsbms29]

A child is completely formed with fingers & toes, etc. at about 13 weeks. That is why abortions were not allowed at that time in the 70''s.

And isn''t it odd - that when a woman wants a child - the fetus is not a fetus but is a child!

But if not wanted the child is just a fetus.

I guess that makes them ''feel better'' about killing their child!

[bcbbkake]

My nephew had a problem with his kidneys inutero. Surgery was performed and corrected the problem, again inutero. He was born vital and whole. I just received his notice of High School Graduation, the point being that this type of surgery has been going on for a long time. My own child was born at 22 weeks gestation, had surgery on her heart day one, and spent the next 4 months in neonatal at Valley Children''s Hospital in Central California, as her birth weight was only 530 grams. She has what others would consider *problems*, but is the light of my life. She will be 21 in August. It is my honor to care for her. She is beautiful, as is her laughter, she is kind and silly, and brings joy to all who know her. In this state, one can abort up to 24 weeks. Having birthed her, and experienced her life at her right hand, it makes me wonder how 24 weeks can be right. I am all for a woman''s right to choose, and could never give away my own flesh and blood (I have been urged by many agencies to send her to a *home*...it will never happen). Valley Children''s Hospital, now located in Madera, California (moved from Fresno), is a real miracle-making place. I am ever grateful that they were there for me and Juliet.

[ralan40]

GrammaWhamma, don''t waste your time. Some people need to think that and formulate a God who "plays faverites" to validate their existance

[cpaide]

"This is such a wonderful story! It just goes to show God''s faithfulness to His people =)...ultimately, it was God who brought her into this world. Nowhere in this report mentions that Macie''s father is a pastor and that she comes from a wonderful Christian family. I pray that this story would impact people in a heart-felt way..."
Posted by cog1984

we are all god''s people and he/she brings us all into this world, regardless of whether we are "christian", catholic, jew, muslim, mormon, atheist, etc.

doesn''t matter if the father is a pastor or a convicted felon (like jesus).

doesn''t matter if the family is wonderful or dysfunctional.

god gives no preferential treatment to christians over non-christians. otherwise, we would have to believe that the suffering of innocent children in iraq was willed by god and that ''lil bush is his/her messenger.

hey, maybe that''s why millions of people voted for bush the second time. yes, god loves the ignorant and the wise equally.

[grammawhamma]

cog1984: Yes, I agree this is a wonderful story. But are you saying the outcome might have been different if her parents were NOT Christians?

[bdrlnt4rl]

FloydZeppl that comment was directed towards you. sorry your mother gave you a chance of life, a chance to voice your opinion, a chance to live and breath and feel love, kindness, and the pure joy of this story. all babies have that same god given, or better yet, mother given right.

[bdrlnt4rl]

with your comments, some people on this site probably wish you were.............

[fireceos]

erichsh

I thought the same thing. The other day, there was a baby with a severe disability that the parents decided to abort, but lived. I think CBS got some flack for that or something because today, the same story, different situation. "Baby pre-disposed to die, lives."

[haoli25]

Poor Mom, she got double-stuffed.

[cog1984]

This is such a wonderful story! It just goes to show God''s faithfulness to His people =) I know that Macie is now seen as a medical marvel, but I wish that people would point out that ultimately, it was God who brought her into this world. Nowhere in this report mentions that Macie''s father is a pastor and that she comes from a wonderful Christian family. I pray that this story would impact people in a heart-felt way...

[cog1984]

This is such a wonderful story! It just goes to show God''s faithfulness to His people =) I know that Macie is now seen as a medical marvel, but I wish that people would point out that ultimately, it was God who brought her into this world. Nowhere in this report mentions that Macie''s father is a pastor and that she comes from a wonderful Christian family. I pray that this story would impact people in a heart-felt way...

[cog1984]

This is such a wonderful story! It just goes to show God''s faithfulness to His people =) I know that Macie is now seen as a medical marvel, but I wish that people would point out that ultimately, it was God who brought her into this world. Nowhere in this report mentions that Macie''s father is a pastor and that she comes from a wonderful Christian family. I pray that this story would impact people in a heart-felt way...

[ynot12007]

"CONGRATULATIONS" You have beutiful baby; may she live long and have fruitful life.

[cog1984]

This is such a wonderful story! It just goes to show God''s faithfulness to His people =) I know that Macie is now seen as a medical marvel, but I wish that people would point out that ultimately, it was God who brought her into this world. Nowhere in this report mentions that Macie''s father is a pastor and that she comes from a wonderful Christian family. I pray that this story would impact people in a heart-felt way...

[cog1984]

This is such a wonderful story! It just goes to show God''s faithfulness to His people =) I know that Macie is now seen as a medical marvel, but I wish that people would point out that ultimately, it was God who brought her into this world. Nowhere in this report mentions that Macie''s father is a pastor and that she comes from a wonderful Christian family. I pray that this story would impact people in a heart-felt way...

[erichsh]

I initially thought this was the recent story about the baby that survived an abortion attempt, and was born with only minor complications months later. But that story was not on this website...