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John and Georgi Wick were looking forward to the birth of their second child. In September 2005 at 13 weeks gestation their baby boy Elijah was diagnosed with a rare and fatal fetal condition called Lower Urinary Tract Obstruction (LUTO). Elijah was unable to urinate while in the womb due to an obstruction in his urethra which can create a multitude of cascading issues. Elijah was given a 1 in 10 chance to survive and told he could likely die before birth or shortly thereafter.
There was no question that the Wicks wanted to fight for their son’s life. They were told of the miracle of minimally invasive fetal surgery performed in the womb that could remove the obstruction. At 16 weeks gestation, fetal surgery was performed which was the first step in saving their son’s life.
At 36 weeks gestation, Elijah was born at Baptist Medical Center Downtown and was taken immediately to Wolfson Children’s Hospital NICU. After birth, they were given the news that he had a very rare condition called Prune Belly Syndrome that affects 1 out of every 40,000 live births. Elijah lacked partial abdominal muscles, had an extremely large bladder, undescended testicles, bi-lateral hydronephrosis, hydroureter, severe grade V kidney reflux with kidney function at 27% and 73% respectively.
The Wick’s had no doubt Elijah would receive the very best care at Wolfson Children’s Hospital. Dr. Michael Erhard, Chief Pediatric Urologist was there for Elijah while he was in the womb and since birth has performed multiple surgeries to correct his urological system not to mention having undergone multiple tests and procedures.
“I knew from the first time I saw Elijah in the womb that he had the fight in him to beat the odds. He has endured a lot, and it is a pleasure, and an honor, to be a part of his special life,” said Michael Erhard, M.D.
Elijah is an amazing little boy that has beaten incredible odds. He is a true vision of hope. The Wick family is eternally grateful to Wolfson Children’s Hospital and the medical teams that give their very best everyday.
Watch this miraculous story on YouTube URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24yOdHaCMZc |
