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Mother’s miracle baby

Thursday, 8 July 2010

Emma McAleese pictured with her son, Curtis, who has astounded doctors with his medical progress.

A COLERAINE woman, who was told her son would never walk, has spoken of her joy after he accompanied her down the aisle as a page boy at her wedding.
Emma McAleese opened up to The Chronicle about the heartache she experienced in 2008 when, as a first-time mother, she was told her unborn child would be paralysed.
Indeed, doctors, diagnosing Spina Bifida, said Emma's baby son would also be born with bowel and bladder problems, possible heart conditions and that his head would be lemon-shaped.
Offered a termination, Emma said this was the last thing she wanted to do, adding, "I never thought I was going to get bad news at my scan.
“I just cried for days, then I got the strength to pick myself back up again. I had to go to Belfast hospital to get my scans done and they told me it was Myelomeningocele Spina Bifida my baby had."
This particular type of Spina Bifida generally results in spinal cord damage or incomplete development, resulting in paralysis and sensation loss below the damaged region. Many children also lose the ability to walk as they grow, making Curtis' subsequent progress all the more astounding.
Spina Bifida, meaning 'split spine', occurs when one or more of the spine's vertebrae do not form properly in the early stages of pregnancy.
Born by caesarian section in November 2008, newly born Curtis Ben Cahail was whisked away to intensive care and it was only later that evening his parents were able to see him properly.
Gorgeous
“He was gorgeous and had these big blue eyes," said Emma. "He had a sac bulging from the lower part of his back, which was the same size as his head. I remember looking down at his legs and they were moving. I couldn't understand - if my baby was paralysed, why were his legs moving?"
The sac the little boy had on his back contained tissue, cerebrospinal fluid, nerves and part of his spinal cord. Little Curtis subsequently underwent a back operation and the same morning had a shunt inserted to artificially drain excess cerebro-spinal fluid back into his system.
“The doctors maintained because his sac wasn't open, that saved him," said Emma. "If it had been open, he would have been one of the worst cases."
Describing him as a happy baby, Emma said Curtis' first year subsequently saw myriad hospital and physiotherapy appointments. Now 19 months old, Curtis has made astounding progress, beginning to walk at 14 months and according to this mum, "loves being outside and kicking the football."
“He's mad about dogs," said Emma. "We had him at the beach and he loves running into the water. Tears come to my eyes sometimes as I never dreamt I would see my baby walking. He's just a miracle.

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