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.

[pollroller1]

Wow!!!!!

[hammoonddog]

Could you have warned viewers about the explicit surgery scenes? Jeez, that was stomach turning.
I''m not in med school, and it''s shots like that,
that desensitize people to real life trauma.

[bigboy1069]

It''s amazing what modern medicine can do. Kudos to these parents for having the surgery done and giving the baby a chance at life instead of turning into merciless murders by chosing abortion.

[deacon20081]

God Bless Texas

[trenticus-2009]

Yup, Texas Childrens is the best I think. Good JOB!

[michellem99-2009]

I am 53 and it is anazing what they can do. TOO BAD A POSTER GOT UP SET. I have seen a boy bleeding due to the fact he cut his wrist and there was blood on the floor. LIFE IS NOT PRETTY.

[nevah75]

rotarooter: Seriously? You''re reading about a story regarding an amazing surgery on a prenatal baby and you didn''t imagine the video accompanying it might show some of said surgery? How exactly is that desensitizing people to real-life trauma anyways? That video IS about life...real life! It''s not like you''re watching some blood and guts movie for entertainment here. It''s unfortunate that real life is so nauseating to you. Perhaps you should stick to Fiction stories it appears Non-fiction isn''t quite your cup of tea.

[harrydoghiny]

And this is the top story because....

[retmilspouse]

And this is the top story because....

Posted by HarryDoghiny at 12:15 AM : Jun 07, 2008

Hey Dirty, because at 25 weeks some states allow you to have an abortion. That''s why. It is a real baby not just some tissue you can toss by the way side.

[fireceos]

Posted by HarryDoghiny at 12:15 AM : Jun 07, 2008

-Maybe this is the top story because with the war, the oil crisis, and the economic state of the country, some good news would be welcomed.

[grammawhamma]

I would hope this makes people think twice about abortion...but then again there are those like babykiller (appropriate name) who just can''t see it.

[ramos937]

This is a beautiful baby and the parents and doctors are wonderful people.

To those girls that think an abortion is the only alternative - it is not. There are hundreds of couples who would dearly love to help you and provide a good home for the baby. Just give them a chance.

If you have already had a baby and decided you cannot care for him/her, just take the baby to the nearest fire station and leave it with someone. They will make no judgment but will care for the baby until the CPS arrives.

Do what is best for the baby and thus best for yourself and give the baby a chance at life.

[bdrlnt4rl]

this is unbelievably the best story i have read in a long time.

rotarooter must never watch tv because this clip was nothing but a miracle when things on the tube is what is stomach turning. stay off the drugs dude

[floydzeppl]

I would hope this makes people think twice about abortion...but then again there are those like babykiller (appropriate name) who just can''''t see it.

Posted by GrammaWhamma at 04:45 AM : Jun 07, 2008
---------

Take your self-righteousness and sanctimony somewhere else old woman.

[floydzeppl]

This is a beautiful baby and the parents and doctors are wonderful people.

To those girls that think an abortion is the only alternative - it is not. There are hundreds of couples who would dearly love to help you and provide a good home for the baby. Just give them a chance.

If you have already had a baby and decided you cannot care for him/her, just take the baby to the nearest fire station and leave it with someone. They will make no judgment but will care for the baby until the CPS arrives.

Do what is best for the baby and thus best for yourself and give the baby a chance at life.

Posted by ramos937 at 05:33 AM : Jun 07, 2008
---------

Why don''t you tell them to bring them to your house?

[winnerindia]

Now, again say that Mr.Bush caused the baby tumor? haa haaa.... I am searching such comments which are always about politics. It''s common on CBS news website.

[iwillslander]

Just interested in the comment or view point that a baby/fetus can''t survive at 25 weeks without its mother. Under that logic wouldn''t we be able to continue to call it an undeveloped human until it was old enough to feed and care for itself? I have a five month old that would die in a few days without parental care. In fact, my parents could probably argue that I was abortable until I moved out of the house. I am all for people having a choice and a right as I am not their judge. Just found this argument quite humorous. Besides that, this article was really interesting, it is amazing the power of modern medical technology.

[msay3]

What a wonderful, beautiful, miraculous story!!!

[msay3]

Why don''''t you tell them to bring them to your house?

Posted by FloydZeppl at 08:06 AM : Jun 07, 2008
-------------------------------

Why don''t you shut up, you dimwit!!!!

[txgrouch2004]

Speaking as the father of two children, I can tell you - EVERY baby is a miracle! It seems like EVERY baby goes through some life-threatening condition at some point. It''s amazing how many are born alive and healthy in spite of it.

There''s nothing like being a parent to teach you how precious life is.

[toolmangler-2009]

I would hope this makes people think twice about abortion...but then again there are those like babykiller (appropriate name) who just can''''''''t see it.

Posted by GrammaWhamma at 04:45 AM : Jun 07, 2008
---------

Take your self-righteousness and sanctimony somewhere else old woman.
Posted by FloydZeppl at 07:17 AM : Jun 07, 2008


To kill a baby simply because you don''t want it is murder, pure and simple.

[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...

[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...

[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...

[haoli25]

Poor Mom, she got double-stuffed.

[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."

[bdrlnt4rl]

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

[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.

[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?

[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.

[ralan40]

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

[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.

[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!

[ajaxrose1]

Beautiful!

[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.

[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.