This Baby Was Born With Her Organs On The Outside Of Her Body.

#1

After their marriage, the couple had been trying for a year to have their first baby. When Clare finally became pregnant, the couple was told that the child would not be compatible for life. They were devastated.

"I'm not one to play God but knowing she would have birth defects didn't make me love her any less."

#2

Clare decided she would fight for her unborn child, and baby Azalea, above all odds, was delivered successfully.

#3

Many of her vital organs were on the outside of her body when she was born. Parts of her stomach, bowel, gall bladder, and her liver were contained in the umbilical cord outside of her body. This resulted from her abdominal muscles not forming properly in utero, a birth defect known as omphalocele.

#4

But, there was another part of baby Azalea's condition that would weight on her mother, Clare, heavily.

#5

Since the organs were only being protected by a thin membrane, her parents were not allowed skin to skin contact with baby Azalea, and they were not allowed to hold her at all for the first several days.

In fact, they spent the first several days tormented having to stare at the child that they could not hold but was also being starved because they could not feed her during the first few days because the membrane protecting the organs could have broken at any time.

#6

She had to spend four months on her back just to promote healing and had issues with feeding. Most of her nutrients had to be delivered directly to her stomach.

#7

Baby Azalea spent nine weeks in the hospital with her mother by her side while the sac holding her organs was strong enough so that she could go home.

Her parents had to learn to take care of the dressing that protected the sac around her organs as it would be there for a very long time.

#8

As her condition improved, the baby and her parents were finally allowed some skin to skin contact.

#9

This baby girl has come a long way since her extremely complicated birth, and even though her organs are still on the outside of her body, she was stable enough to be taken home by her parents.

#10

Here she is now! Could you just die? She is too happy and cute!

#11

You just can't get enough of that smile, am I right?

#12

Despite everything, Azalea is developing at a normal rate despite her time spent in the hospital. She clearly is compatible with life.

#13

It is totally clear that this princess is enjoying her life at home. Eventually, all of her organs will be enclosed in side of her body.

In the meantime, she gets regular at home nurse visits.

#14

Clare is also telling her daughter's incredible story to raise awareness for World Omphalocele Awareness Day on January 31.

#15

Even though she appears to be thriving, Azalea will have to have another surgery to be sure all of her organs are contained properly when she is around two years of age.

#16

Here is to a healthy recovery, baby Azalea!