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East Nusa Tenggara baby born without parts of brain, skull
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A miracle: Siti Hanifa (right) looks at her daughter, Gloria Stefani Lalay, who was born without parts of the brain and skull due to a medical condition known as anencephaly. (JP/Djemi Amnifu)
A
baby girl born with incomplete development of the brain and skull in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), could survive up to 10 days and is now reportedly in a healthy condition.
The baby with the serious birth defect known as anenchepaly was born on last Tuesday to married couple Yendri Lalay and Siti Hanifa. She is now undergoing intensive medical treatment at SK Lerik Hospital, Kupang.
“Anencephaly babies usually only survive for around 24 to 48 hours. However, suffering from the same birth defect, this baby can survive for 10 days and her condition is now really healthy,” said SK Lerik Hospital director Marsiana Halek on Thursday.
Marsiana said anencephaly was an abnormal embryonic development that caused babies to be born without parts of the brain and skull.
“This birth defect occurs in only one out of every 1,000 births in the world. Generally, this case can be diagnosed when the baby is still in the womb.”
Marsiana said the baby, Gloria Stefani Lalay, was born at home with help from a traditional midwife. She was then rushed to SK Lerik Hospital for a further assistance.
The baby was immediately given intravenous feeding and oxygen because of her weak condition.
“We stopped supplying her with intravenous medication and oxygen after her condition improved. This is a miracle from God because usually an anencephaly baby has a very low life expectancy,” said Marsiana.
The baby is still kept in an incubator and closely monitored by the hospital’s medical team led by pediatrician Putu Mas Vina Paramitha. (ebf)
