This is such an amazing story! What a miracle for this little girl!
In a new interview with People, momma Casey Price told the story of her daughter Noel, and how SUPER early Botox injections saved her life. In the interview, Casey said:
“She might be one of the youngest people in the world with Botox.”
Wow!! But how did this come about? Well, when Casey was 17 weeks pregnant, she had an irregular ultrasound. She said a technician told her and her hubby Jonathan that Noel looked really small and that she might have a medical issue. A week later, they went to a specialist and found out she had complex gastroschisis — which is a hole in the abdominal wall.
Unfortunately, in Noel’s case, her intestines had gone through the hole and got exposed to her momma’s womb’s amniotic fluid. According to what Dr. Cara Buskmiller from Texas Children’s North Austin told the outlet, the abnormality is “more dangerous for the baby” than the mom. The hole in the abdomen is super tight, which means it can cause damage to the baby’s intestines.
The death rate for the condition is around 10% to 15% — but if the baby survives, there’s a 10% chance the infant will suffer with a lifelong issue called short bowel syndrome. In Noel’s case, doctors were super worried about her being so small. With how little she was, they theorized the condition could be even more of a risk of being fatal to her.
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Her dad Jonathan said:
“It seemed like the news kept getting worse and worse. We wanted to do all we could to fight for her life, for her to have a life with us. We were determined to do whatever it took.”
So scary…
The parents were given several options on what to do to help their child after finding out her intestines were getting “kinked” and “swelling up” inside and out. They considered delivering her early as a preemie, but ultimately Dr. Buskmiller helped the parents decide on a different option.
A VERY rare procedure had only been done a handful of times in the whole world was brought up. The procedure was injecting Botox — the injection that’s usually paired with fillers and cosmetic surgery — into the baby in order to relax her muscles and loosen things up. That way her intestines wouldn’t be “kinked” up and blood flow could return to normal.
The doctor explained:
“I thought perhaps I could solve the problem and buy more time for the baby to grow.”
Even so, this was very risky. Casey braced herself for the many challenges that could’ve laid ahead. There were chances Noel could’ve been born not being able to eat normally, have severe nerve damage to her stomach, or have to have her intestines cut out:
“The spectrum of what could have gone wrong was pretty big.”
But luckily things went well! Casey recalled having a lot of needles poked into her back and stomach during the procedure, but ultimately it helped. And six weeks before her due date, Noel was born via C-section.
She was still a preemie at just three pounds four ounces, and she had to have some surgeries to remove the amniotic fluid that had gone into her intestines. But after 81 days in the NICU, she went home. And even better, her dad Jonathan said:
“Luckily, she didn’t have any of those genetic conditions that she was supposed to have. She kept coming out on top despite the odds. And she’s healthy.”
AH-Mazing!!
Noel is currently off of a feeding tube, doesn’t need any additional surgeries, and is living like any other little girl. In fact, Casey told the outlet:
“She’s very smiley.”
Aww!
The family told the outlet they hope their story inspires others, and helps other parents find the strength to not give up. Jonathan added:
“Those were real tough times, but every step of the way, when she needed a miracle and needed to turn a corner she did. We’re really thankful.”
What a heartwarming story! Who would’ve known Botox could’ve saved a baby like this!
Reactions, Perezcious readers?
[Image created for PerezHilton.com]
