A premature baby whose heart stopped beating for 22 minutes has been described as a “miracle” by the doctors who treated her, as she celebrates her first birthday.

Lacey Sherriff, who was born at just 27 weeks weighing 1.4lb (635g), experienced two cardiac arrests during emergency surgery when she was only five days old.

Her parents prepared themselves for the worst — but against all expectations, their little girl survived.

Doctors at St George’s Hospital in London say Lacey is expected to develop and enjoy a normal life.

Lacey was delivered by emergency Caesarean section at St Peter’s Hospital before being transferred to St George’s five days later for urgent surgery to treat a severe bowel condition called necrotising enterocolitis (NEC).

During the operation, her heart stopped beating for 12 minutes before doctors managed to stabilise her. Then, her heart stopped again — for another 10 minutes.

Dr Thomas Breen, a consultant anaesthetist at St George’s who led the theatre and resuscitation team, said: “The operation was going well, but she deteriorated and we started to fear the worst — but we didn’t give up.”

He said he had never witnessed a case involving a baby so young and so critically unwell, who had essentially come close to losing her life, recover without signs of brain damage.

Dr Breen said Lacey was “clearly a fighter” who had overcome extraordinary odds to pull through.

Lacey’s parents, Louise, 39, and Philip, 41, who live in Ashford, Middlesex, knew their daughter was seriously unwell and that her chances of survival were slim.

“We didn’t think she’d survive surgery and thought we’d be registering Lacey’s birth and death certificates at the same time,” Louise said.

“It was such a rollercoaster of emotions — first thinking we’d be going home as a family of four, then three, and then back to four again.”

Undergoing major surgery at such a young age carries significant risks, but doctors explained that without the operation, Lacey had very little chance of survival.

Following surgery, her condition gradually improved each day, although she needed another operation at 13 days old to address complications with her stoma, which had been fitted during the first procedure.

Lacey was finally discharged after 111 days in hospital, in February.

Mr Zahid Mukhtar, a paediatric surgeon at the hospital, said: “She’ll continue to have follow-up appointments, but she should develop and live a normal life, which is excellent news.”

Lacey underwent surgery last month to reverse her stoma. The procedure was successful, allowing her to use her bowel normally again.

The family are now back home in Ashford with Lacey and their five-year-old son, Alfie.

Louise said the four months Lacey spent in hospital had been incredibly difficult, involving a three-hour round trip from home to visit her daughter — but she always knew Lacey was in safe hands.

“My daughter wouldn’t be celebrating her first birthday if it wasn’t for the staff at St George’s.

“The care from the moment we arrived until the day we left was phenomenal. I can’t fault it.”

Source: BBC