A FAMILY returned to Southend Hospital's specialist fetal medicine unit to thank staff for helping to save the life of baby girl who was born with her intestines outside her body.

Little Annabelle-Rose Thomas was diagnosed with gastroschisis while still in the womb.

Her parents, Kiri Thomas, 27, and husband Nick, 28, were given the devastating news that all was not well with the pregnancy when Mrs Thomas was just 12 weeks pregnant.

Mr Thomas said: “Both Kiri and I were completely shocked, speechless and the emotion we felt is hard to explain. We looked at each other, held each other’s hand and convinced one another that everything would be OK, even though we both immediately thought the defect was severe and we were to prepare ourselves for the worst.

This also followed on from the fact that six months before, Kiri suffered a ruptured ectopic pregnancy for which she required an emergency blood transfusion of four units.”

The couple from Leigh knew their daughter would need immediate surgery at King’s College Hospital in London when she was born. The fetal unit under consultant Mandeep Singh looked after them for the remainder of the pregnancy and prepared them for what lay ahead.

Mrs Thomas underwent weekly scans that alternated between Southend and Kings.

Mr Thomas said: “All the way through it was touch and go. Some scans were fine and some would show a problem. Then after one scan Mr Singh said the baby needed to be delivered within 24 hours.”

The couple were rushed straight to Kings College for a natural delivery of their baby.

Mr Thomas added: “Mr Singh really did demonstrate how much impact going the extra mile can have on a family. We had to deliver Annabelle-Rose at Kings College in London, and although when we were first told of this, we were a little scared, away from family and close friends, Mr Singh and his team ensured we had a full understanding of the process, timelines were clear and communication was concise. Throughout the entire process, he was the person we both felt we could speak to at any time of the day.”

Annabelle-Rose was successfully operated on following her delivery and was able to go home to her adoring little brother, two-and-a-half year old George. She is now seven months old, and thriving with only a tiny mark to show anything was ever wrong.

Mr Thomas added: “Without the unit Annabelle-Rose wouldn’t be here, particularly Mr Singh. He is one of the most amazing people I have ever met. He even came to visit us at Kings to see how we were.

“The care at the fetal medicine centre was absolutely amazing and a number of the team went out of their way to ensure we were OK, Annabelle-Rose was ok and that any questions we had could be answered. The support from the team has been greatly appreciated and as a family, we will be forever grateful.”

“Apart from teething, and waking up at all hours, she is perfectly fine. There is a small abnormality to the belly button area but this can only be identified if you were study it up close.

“The main thing is that the rollercoaster journey we went through during pregnancy can be parked and we can enjoy our healthy, happy, amazing little fighter of a daughter.”