Mother Was Terrified Of Being Scared Of Her Daughter After Finding She'd Be Born 'Mermaid'

Mum, Noelle Spivey, 35, found out Blaire had the condition and she was told it wasn’t a matter of “if” but “when” her unborn baby would die. 

She admits she was terrified she'd be "scared" of her own daughter.

Noelle Spivey / SWNS

Noelle was given the news that Blaire had sirenomelia at her 12-week scan. 

Reliving the terrifying moment the mum revealed: 

"The doctor came in an essentially said - 'your baby has a fatal condition'.

"I started crying - it had been hard enough to get pregnant.''

Noelle Spivey / SWNS

Noelle was determined not to give up and was closely monitored throughout the pregnancy.

Noelle Spivey/SWNS

She said: 

“Most babies diagnosed with mermaid syndrome as a fetus don’t develop a kidney, intestines or genitals. It’s scary.” 

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Noelle was booked in for a scheduled C-section, but at her 37-week scan doctors realised her amniotic fluid levels had dropped and she was rushed for an emergency C-section.

Blaire was born at 10.27am on February 7, 2018, weighing 4lbs 8oz.

She said: 

“It was the happiest moment of my life. Once they made sure she was OK I got to see her and she was crying. 

Noelle Spivey / SWNS

I put my hand on her head, she looked at me and stopped crying. She was born with lungs, heart, brain – everything was normal.”

“But she only had one of her two bones in her lower legs. Below her knee it was rotated backwards and everything was fused.

Noelle Spivey / SWNS

I had been terrified of the unknown. But seeing her in person – I was just calm.”

Noelle Spivey / SWNS

Miraculously, Blaire defied the odds and survived an arduous seven-hour operation to separate her legs when she was 18 months old.

Her legs were then amputated from the knees down.

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Blaire got her first full-length prosthetic legs last summer - and has now taken her first steps.

“She’s just my baby’. She’s perfect. I tell her she was born a mermaid. And I say to her - 'not everyone is used to cool legs like you'.

“They thought she wouldn’t walk. She’s beaten the odds. 

She’s just a normal kid. It’s amazing to be her mum. She’s doing great. 

She wants to be able to run but we try to instil confidence in her.”

Blaire still has a few health complications doctors are investigating, such as a partial bladder, but mum Noelle says she’s “sassy” and “strong”.

She said:

“She’s super smart and hilarious. She’s recently learned to cross her eyes.

She’s a miracle. We started wheelchair tennis and cheerleading. I hope for a long, happy, healthy life for her.”