Oxford, UK – In an astonishing medical breakthrough, a baby boy in the United Kingdom has been described as being “born twice” after his mother underwent a groundbreaking surgery that removed her womb—with the unborn baby still inside—to treat life-threatening ovarian cancer.
Lucy Isaac, a 32-year-old primary school teacher from Oxford, was 20 weeks pregnant when a routine scan revealed a shocking diagnosis: ovarian cancer. Faced with a race against time, doctors at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital devised an extraordinary plan to save both Lucy and her baby.
Led by surgeon Dr. Soleymani Majd, the medical team performed a high-risk five-hour procedure, during which Lucy’s uterus—containing her baby boy, Rafferty—was carefully removed from her body. The womb remained connected to her circulatory system through critical blood vessels and was wrapped in warm saline packs to maintain a stable environment for the fetus.
Over a span of two hours, surgeons delicately removed the cancerous tissue from Lucy’s body while her unborn child remained safe in the external womb. After successfully completing the tumor removal, the uterus was returned to her abdomen, and the pregnancy continued to term.
“This type of procedure has only been attempted a handful of times globally,” said Dr. Majd. “It’s an incredible testament to the advancements of modern medicine and multidisciplinary teamwork.”
A Moment of Miracles
Months later, Lucy gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Rafferty, bringing immense joy to her family. “To finally hold him in our arms after everything we’ve been through was the most incredible feeling,” said Lucy’s husband, Adam, who himself is no stranger to medical miracles, having undergone a kidney transplant in 2022.
Lucy had exhibited no symptoms of cancer, and the tumor was only discovered during a 12-week scan. Given the stage of her pregnancy, traditional keyhole surgery was not an option, and delaying treatment could have been fatal. The team’s bold decision ensured that both mother and baby emerged from the crisis unharmed.
Raising Awareness Through Hope
Ovarian cancer affects approximately 7,000 women annually in the UK, with many cases diagnosed at a late stage due to vague or absent symptoms. Lucy now considers herself among the fortunate few. “I feel incredibly lucky,” she shared. “If it wasn’t for that early scan and the willingness of my medical team to go to such lengths, things could’ve turned out very differently.”
The story of Lucy and Rafferty is already inspiring the medical community and families alike. It highlights not only the importance of prenatal scans but also the incredible possibilities that can arise when medicine meets courage and compassion.
