Team of medical professionals in Turkey miraculously manage the extraordinary birth of a baby whose organs were found outside the body.
In a heartwarming tale of courage and resilience, a Turkish couple, the Kurnaz family, has been fighting for their newborn son, Deniz Kaan, who was born with a rare condition called omphalocele. The diagnosis came as a shock during routine checkups, just 11 weeks into their pregnancy.
Despite the challenging circumstances, the Kurnaz couple refused to terminate the pregnancy and sought help. They contacted associate professor Halil Gürsoy Pala, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Bazekol Çiğli Hospital in Izmir, western Turkey.
Omphalocele is a birth defect that causes a baby's abdominal organs to develop outside the body. In Deniz Kaan's case, he was delivered prematurely at 34 weeks with his intestines and liver outside his body. After birth, he successfully underwent two surgeries performed by professor Emre Divarcı to return his organs safely inside.
The survival rate for isolated omphalocele cases is high, about 80-90%, especially with advances in neonatal surgery and intensive care. The treatment process typically involves staged surgical repair, followed by critical postoperative care in a specialized neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Prenatal diagnosis allows close observation by a multidisciplinary team, including obstetricians and pediatric surgeons, to plan the timing and mode of delivery and immediate care for the newborn. Postoperatively, babies require monitoring for feeding difficulties, bowel function, infection prevention, and potential long-term gastrointestinal issues, although many go on to live healthy lives.
In Deniz Kaan’s case, expert surgical and neonatal care in Turkey led to successful organ repositioning and ongoing recovery, offering hope for eventual discharge home. Professor Divarcı plans to discharge Deniz Kaan in the next few days, and the family is counting down the days until they can finally take him home.
The Kurnaz family's story serves as a source of hope for other families facing similar struggles. Deniz Kaan is improving daily, and his abdominal wall is fully closed, allowing him to be fed. His mother, Bilge Kaplan Kurnaz, expresses her emotional journey during the pregnancy and her longing to hold her son.
The family keeps a diary for Deniz Kaan to document his journey, and they are grateful for the support and care they have received from the medical team. According to associate professor Halil Gürsoy Pala, an omphalocele can be detected early through ultrasound scans, and if no other genetic issues are found, it can often be successfully treated after birth.
As Deniz Kaan continues to recover in intensive care, his parents, the Kurnaz couple, remain hopeful and optimistic for their son's future. Their story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the advancements in medical care that can save lives and bring hope to families facing challenging circumstances.
While Deniz Kaan's medical journey is far from over, the advancements in neonatal care and surgical procedures offer promise for his future. His case, a rare instance of omphalocele, has highlighted the importance of early detection and treatment of such neurological disorders. Furthermore, the Kurnaz family's story serves as a beacon of hope for parents navigating the complex world of medical-conditions, health-and-wellness, and mental-health challenges that come with parenting. As they continue to document Deniz Kaan's progress in his health-and-wellness journey, they also underscore the significance of strong parenting and the supportive roles that medical professionals can play in such situations.
