The Unusual Story of a Baby Who Was Born TWICE

A woman’s pregnancy took an unexpected turn when a routine ultrasound at 16 weeks revealed a serious problem with her baby. Her daughter was diagnosed with a rare tumor that forms before birth. What followed was a remarkable journey of resilience and medical innovation, where the odds of survival were stacked against the baby girl.

A shocking diagnosis.

At 16 weeks pregnant, Margaret Hawkins Boemer received the shocking news that her baby had a sacrococcygeal teratoma. This rare tumor grows from the tailbone of the fetus and is found more often in girls than boys. The diagnosis was frightening and unfamiliar, leaving the expectant mother filled with uncertainty about her daughter’s future.

The situation worsened.

The sacrococcygeal teratoma posed a grave threat to Lynlee’s life. As the tumor grew, it diverted blood flow away from the developing fetus, putting her at risk of heart failure. At 23 weeks, Lynlee’s heart was struggling, and the situation became critical. The medical team faced a difficult decision: allow the tumor to take over or pursue a risky surgery that offered a slim chance of survival.

The parents made the choice to save their baby.

Determined to give Lynlee a chance at life, Margaret Boemer and her medical team opted for a groundbreaking procedure known as fetal surgery. At 23 weeks and 5 days into her pregnancy, the surgery was performed.

The tumor had grown so large that a significant incision was needed to reach it, temporarily placing the baby “outside” the womb. During the surgery, the team’s quick thinking and expertise kept her alive. After removing most of the tumor, they carefully placed Lynlee back in her mother’s womb and sealed it.

A beautiful miracle.

Margaret Boemer spent the next 12 weeks on bed rest, enduring physical and emotional challenges. Against all odds, she made it to nearly 36 weeks, considered full term, when Lynlee Hope was born for the second time via a Cesarean section.

The little fighter, named after her grandmothers, weighed a healthy 5 pounds and 5 ounces. Lynlee underwent another surgery at eight days old to remove the remaining bits of the tumor. She recovered in the neonatal intensive care unit and eventually returned home.

Beating the odds, Lynlee Boemer is now seven years old. She has finished first grade and loves dancing ballet, and jazz.

Another baby born with a medical condition is living her best life despite undergoing several surgeries. Check out her inspirational story here.