I am very familiar with stories of babies who have tragically died, whether through natural causes or abortion. These stories can cause our hearts to be heavy with grief. So imagine my great joy when I heard the story of a baby who was pronounced dead by doctors but then found alive in the morgue by her parents.
A precious girl was born prematurely to Analia Bouter and her husband Fabian Veron in Resistencia, Argentina. The baby, born at 26 weeks, was examined by gynecologists, obstetricians, and a neonatologist, all of whom detected no vital signs and pronounced her stillborn.
Although the parents were informed that their baby was dead, they weren’t given an opportunity to see her. The mother was put to sleep for the delivery, and her child was taken directly to the morgue after being examined. Fox News Latino reports: “Bouter told the TeleNoticias TV channel that doctors gave her a death certificate just 20 minutes after the baby was born and the baby was quickly put in a coffin and taken to the morgue’s refrigeration room.”
The parents, eager to say goodbye to their child, asked to be taken to the morgue. At this point the baby had been in a casket in a refrigerated room for twelve hours. The casket was nailed shut and had to be pried open by the baby’s father. When it opened, both parents were shocked to hear a cry coming out from the baby. They imagined that they were hallucinating. Fabian told local reporters: “My wife jumped back, like saying, ‘this must be my imagination.'”
Her father said she felt like a cold bottle of ice. The baby was immediately rushed to neonatal, where she remains today in critical condition. Her parents have named the brave girl Tiny Luz Milagros, or “Miracle Light.” She is currently suffering from convulsions, sepsis, and signs of neurological damage. Dr. Diana Vesco, chief of neonatology at the Resistencia hospital, said the baby is on a ventilator and being treated with antibiotics.
Some of the medical staff at the hospital have been temporarily suspended and are now facing investigation. The province’s health minister is calling this an “error of protocol, while the hospital director told CNN news that “proper protocol had been followed.”
Regardless of the results of the investigation, the parents are still overjoyed to have their daughter alive. The baby’s father Fabian told CNN earlier this week, “Today is the eighth day of my daughter’s resurrection.” President Cristina Fernandez has called the parents, offering support and asking to see the child when she is out of intensive care.
CBS news reports the mother’s response: “I’m a believer.” “All of this was a miracle from God,” she told Telam, Argentina’s state news agency.
Many of us pray for life and health to be given to babies across the world. Some of these prayers were answered in Argentina. I join millions around the world to continue to pray for a safe recovery for this special little girl and her family.
