Miracle baby turns 10

A GIRL who was given a 10 per cent chance of survival after being born nine weeks premature continues to defy predictions of doctors.

Ariella Skeete weighed just 2lb 2oz when she arrived on May 30, 2014 and was expected to not live past 48 hours.

She had congenital diaphragmatic hernia, a rare condition which restricts the development of her lungs, and Nager syndrome, a genetic disorder which affects the development of the face, hands and arms.

She also had an undersized jaw, a displaced heart, a cleft palate, jaundice and uses a tube in her neck to breathe.

Ariella has now learned to eat, run and has started to show a bit of “sass”, according to her mother.

Ms Rees, 30, who grew up in Nettlebed and Henley and attended Langtree School in Woodcote, said: “Ariella was born premature at 31 weeks with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, where her bowels were up in her chest, restricting her lungs from growing in the womb.

“To have Nager syndrome, which is very rare on its own, and CHD, there are only a few known cases in the world. Ariella breathes through a tube in her neck, which makes breathing harder as it is like breathing through a straw. She has had this tube since she was two hours old and that is what saved her life.”

Ariella is still being cared for at the John Radcliffe Hospital and the family moved from Woodcote to Oxford to be closer to it. The respiratory nurse there is known as her “hospital Mummy”.

Ms Rees said: “The teams at the John Radcliffe are remarkable and my daughter wouldn’t be here without them. I was told by her ear, nose and throat consultant that they now have a bag in the neonatal intensive care unit that has Ariella’s name on it with all the equipment in case they have to perform the same tracheostomy procedure again. So, Ariella could now save the lives of other babies.”

Ariella has two siblings, Kiyanna, two, and Montrell, one, while her father, Renado Skeete, lives in Reading.

Ms Rees said life has not been easy and Ariella almost died a few years ago when she had multiple seizures and passed out.

She said: “A few years ago, we nearly lost Ariella. I had to carry her downstairs, lifeless, when the ambulance arrived. It took a lot of meds to bring her round and she had a long stay in a paediatric intensive care and a paediatric high dependency unit.

“But Ariella fought through like she always has. I never used to believe in miracles but I witness one every day with her.

“Ariella has always smiled through it and is honestly the bravest, strongest and inspiring person I know. She has got a sassy side that keeps me on my toes but that sassy determined side has got her this far.

“She cannot speak, she is non-verbal, but she makes her presence known and she definitely knows how to get what she wants.

“Ariella was diagnosed with autism aged seven and is going through the pathway for ADHD diagnosis too. She is still looking to have a lot of surgery in the future to repair her cleft palate and extend her jaw, in the hope that one day that her breathing tube can come out.”

Ariella is not yet in school but has been provided with a tutor by Oxfordshire County Council, the education authority. The family is also planning to move to Sonning Common to be closer to family.

Ms Rees said: “We are moving to Sonning common to be closer to family and friends and hopefully obtain Ariella a school placement. Now Ariella has come so far and is stable enough, we can move back to the area we love.”