A little boy, born 17 weeks early, the size of his mother’s hand, will be able to celebrate Christmas at home with his extended family after spending five months in hospital.
Baby Lexcen-Fili Penese, named after his father, was born prematurely at just 23 weeks gestation. The tiny baby, born in Brisbane’s Mater Mother’s Hospital, weighed just 670 grams at birth, less than a loaf of bread.
Sasha Sami, his mum, said “He was the size of my hand when he was born and I had doubts if he was going to ever make it home”.
After such a premature birth, doctors warned the parents their son’s chance of survival was low.
“Eight days after Lexcen-Fili was born we were on our way to the hospital to visit him and the doctor told us to rush there – we were actually getting ready to say goodbye because things were not looking good”, his mother said.
Lexcen-Fili was diagnosed with Necrotizing Enterocolitis and had two hernia repairs during his time in hospital. The little boy received medical care around the clock in the hospital’s Neonatal Critical Care Unit (NCCU).
“The news from doctors seemed to be bad each time – Lexcen-Fili had lots of complications but somehow he managed to pull through”, Sasha said.
“To think back to where he was then to where he is now is just incredible. He was resuscitated moments after birth and had oxygen to assist with his breathing”.
‘Miracle baby’ overcomes 50-50 chance of survival
The Director of Neonatology at the hospital, Dr Pita Birch, said that Lexcen-Fili was “lucky to be alive”.
“Babies born at 23 weeks usually have about a 50-50 chance of survival”, he said. “They are so tiny and fragile and often spend months in hospital”.
However, in the year of Lexcen-Fili’s birth, he was one of eight babies born at 23 weeks at the hospital to survive such challenging odds.
“It is the incredible care and attention to detail of our entire multidisciplinary team that has helped so many tiny babies survive and thrive inside the Neonatal Critical Care Unit”, Dr Birch said.
Lexcen-Fili came home from hospital in time for Christmas and his mother shared that he will be guaranteed to get lots of cuddles from his parents’ extended family when they come together to celebrate.
“Now my miracle baby is home – he is a precious gift”, she said.
Survival rates have improved for babies born below the abortion limit
Lexcen-Fili was born at 23 weeks gestation, one week below the current UK abortion limit of 24 weeks. The last time the abortion limit was lowered in 1990, the improved survival rates for extremely prematurely born babies was one of the key considerations that motivated this change.
By the same logic, and informed by the improved survival rates for babies born at 22 and 23 weeks gestation, the abortion time limit should also be lowered now.
Key studies in recent years have documented the improving outcomes for these babies.
A 2008 study looking at survival rates for a neonatal intensive care unit in London found that neonatal survival rates at 22 and 23 weeks gestation had improved over time. In 1981-85, no babies who were born at these gestational ages survived to discharge. However, by 1986-90, 19% did and this increased to 54% in the period 1996-2000.
In the decade to 2019 alone, the survival rate for extremely premature babies born at 23 weeks doubled, prompting new guidance from the British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM) that enables doctors to intervene to save premature babies from 22 weeks gestation. The previous clinical guidance, drafted in 2008, set the standard that babies who were born before 23 weeks gestation should not be resuscitated.
Spokesperson for Right to Life UK, Catherine Robinson, said “A very happy Christmas to little Lexcen-Fili and his parents, who will no doubt be celebrating the survival of their son after five long months of fighting in hospital”.
