Dont worry im fine1/3/2024 The amniotic sac is a clear, tough membrane formed inside the mother’s uterus to encapsulate the growing unborn baby and amniotic fluid. This is where the amniotic sac, which Dippenaar had carefully preserved at Ephraim’s birth, became a crucial part of his highly specialised treatment. “Crucial to the process was maintaining this membrane, which was completely transparent initially, as it matured and gradually contracted,” Dippenaar explains.ĭippenaar says the membrane from an amniotic tissue, a natural healing power from the mother, started to break down in two areas, putting Ephraim at risk for life-threatening septic complications. So began a long and extremely delicate process during which Ephraim was kept in a carefully controlled environment within the NNICU to protect the thin membrane forming the bubble around his organs and to prevent infection. His intestines and organs could not simply be moved into the position they would usually be in, we needed time for the skin to grow to make enough space in his tummy.” “Our biggest challenge was that as a result of all of those contents being outside his body, his abdominal cavity had not developed. “What made Ephraim’s lesion particularly unusual was not only its size, but the fact that not only the small and large intestines but also half of his liver were protruding through his abdominal wall within this translucent bubble, redefining this lesion as a hepato-omphalocele,” explains Dr Ricky Dippenaar, principal neonatologist practising at Netcare Blaauwberg Hospital. Beneline told me she was okay, and that I should follow the medical team to be with our son.”Įxomphalos is a defect in the central abdomen, resulting in a sealed sack outside the body containing some of the abdominal organs, resembling a bubble with the organs clearly visible. “We were so relieved that he had survived, but the neonatal intensive care team needed to stabilise him and he was immediately taken to the neonatal intensive care unit (NNICU), so we were very worried, and we knew it was the start of a long journey. Ephraim’s birth was powerfully emotional,” Ephraim’s father, Melvory van Wyk, recalls. It was like he was saying, ‘Don’t worry, Mommy, I’m fine’. I thanked God every day when I opened my eyes and I felt the baby kicking. “We wondered, how can our child live? Ephraim’s father and I knew there is something special about this child, and even though there were major risks, we would stop at nothing to give him the chance to live.
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