It’s going to be an extra-special Christmas for one US family, who have welcomed home their baby boy after invasive in utero surgery.
Matthew Angeles spent over two months in hospital, after being diagnosed with hydrops fetalis while still in the womb.
Hydrops fetalis is also known as fluid in the chest, and if left untreated it can cause foetal heart failure.
Parents Khae Saetern and Bobby Angeles were told that little Matthew would have to undergo surgery in the womb, if he was to survive the pregnancy.
After suffering their fair share of heartache, enduring a stillbirth and two miscarriages, the parents-to-be decided to go ahead with the procedure.
In an interview with Fox 40, Dr Diana Farmer of Sacramento’s UC Davis Children’s Hospital explained the process.
“The surgery involved putting in a specific kind of drainage device so that the fluid could come out of his chest cavity,” she said.
Matthew arrived into the world on September 28, and received treatment until being allowed home this month.
With more surgery set for 2017, Matthew is expected to make a full recovery.
“When we finally were able to carry him home, we wanted to play music down the hall we were so happy,” delighted mum Khae told Fox.
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