Little Kayleigh’s airway was restricted — meaning she needed a highly complex medical procedure

A Stoke-on-Trent family have expressed gratitude to the medical team who supported their newborn baby after she required major treatment during the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

Deborah Kavanagh and dad William Deaville discovered at their 20-week scan that there was a large growth on their unborn daughter’s neck.

The couple were given the heartbreaking news that the mass could have affected the baby’s breathing during birth, so a carefully planned procedure was essential to help her safely enter the world.

Deborah received specialist care at the Royal Stoke University Hospital for the remainder of her pregnancy.

They later transferred to Manchester for the birth, where a team of 34 medical professionals carried out a rare and highly advanced procedure, performed only a few times in the hospital’s history.

Training was conducted on April 17 by the specialist team to prepare for the Ex Utero Intrapartum Treatment (EXIT) procedure before it was carried out days later.

The team faced additional challenges operating during the pandemic, along with unexpected complications as baby Kayleigh experienced a critical moment during the procedure and required additional medical support — but thankfully, she recovered well.

Ten days later, further treatment was carried out to remove more of the growth, and she may still need additional procedures and monitoring as she grows.

Deborah said: “Kayleigh is doing really well and we finally got to take her home to meet her excited big sister on June 25, who greeted her with lots of kisses!

“All the staff at the hospitals were fantastic, right from the very beginning to the very end. The team involved with the EXIT procedure were incredible, all working together to ensure Kayleigh arrived safely.

“The specialists were amazing, and their positive attitude helped us stay strong throughout the pregnancy and the procedures that followed.

“All the nurses and midwives who cared for us during pregnancy and in the neonatal and high-dependency units were exceptional. The care was outstanding all the way through. Doctors were kind, understanding, and always took the time to answer our questions. We were treated so well, even with the added challenges of the pandemic.

“To all the amazing staff who supported us during our time in Manchester, we wish we could personally thank every single one of them.”

The team included ENT specialists, neonatal doctors, obstetricians, midwives, anaesthetists, and surgical teams from both Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and St Mary’s Hospital.