Baby girl 'born twice' after doctors cut her from womb to remove tumour

When Margaret Boemer went for her 16 week ultra-sound pregnancy check-up, she was told that her baby had a rare condition and would require surgery if she were to survive.

"LynLee didn't have much of a chance you have a 50/50 chance of making it and the tumour was so big. I was coming for regular checkups and by the time at 23 weeks the tumour was shutting her heart down and causing her to go into cardiac failure," Boemer said.

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While other doctors at different hospitals recommended termination of the pregnancy, Dr. Oluyinka Olutoye, pediatric surgeon and co-director of Texas Children's Fetal Center and Dr. Darrell Cass, explained the surgery option, having performed one some 7 years ago.

"So it was a choice of allowing the tumour to take over her body or giving her a chance at life and so that's what we chose was to give her a chance," Boemer said.

At 23 weeks pregnant, Boemer had her baby surgically removed from her womb and the tumour taken out. The baby was then returned to her mother's womb and Boemer remained on bed rest for 12 weeks, before delivering her baby via C-section at week 36, a full term.

Upon birth the baby, LynLee, was whisked away and examined by the doctors at the hospital. She was deemed healthy and was placed in the nursery with the other newborns.

At eight days old LynLee had another minor surgery to remove the bits of tumour that could not be reached earlier.

"She had more surgery and they were able to remove the rest of the tumour and kind of reconstruct how things looked and moved her muscles around and everything to fill in where the tumour was," Boemer said.

LynLee was seen with her parents on Friday nursing and being weighed on the pediatrics scale at the hospital.

"How exciting it is that she's made it through and not only made it through but done so well," Boemer said. "It'll be exciting to see how she grows up and what she does," she added.

Lynlee recovered wonderfully in the NICU and was able to go home just weeks after her surgery.

The family, from Lewisville, Texas, is now enjoying life at home as a family of five and they come to Texas Children's for check-ups as Lynlee grows, the Texas Children's Hospital said in a statement.

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