Baby Born With a Large Neck Tumor Could Have Lost His Airway at Birth — Doctors Had to Act Before His First Breath

For Jennifer and Angel, the excitement of welcoming their baby boy suddenly turned into fear when a routine pregnancy ultrasound revealed something deeply concerning.

At 27 weeks pregnant, doctors discovered an abnormal mass growing on their unborn son’s neck. Further examinations revealed that it was a teratoma, a type of tumor that can contain several different kinds of tissue.

As the mass continued growing, doctors became increasingly concerned that their baby, Isaac, might be unable to breathe after delivery.

A Tumor Threatening His First Breath

Jennifer was referred to the Maternal Fetal Care Center at Boston Children’s Hospital, where specialists performed additional imaging and developed a treatment plan.

The greatest danger was the tumor’s position. As it expanded, it pressed against Isaac’s developing airway.

Doctors feared that once he was delivered and separated from the placenta, the obstruction could prevent him from breathing independently.

His parents faced an agonizing reality: their son would need medical intervention before he could safely enter the world.

More Than 65 Medical Professionals Prepared for His Arrival

The medical team planned an extraordinary procedure known as ex-utero intrapartum treatment, or EXIT.

Unlike a conventional cesarean delivery, this technique allows doctors to partially deliver the baby while maintaining the connection to the placenta.

That connection continues providing oxygen while specialists work to secure the newborn’s airway.

On December 6, 2023, when Jennifer was 35 weeks pregnant, more than 65 clinicians and support staff assembled across two operating rooms.

Every detail had been carefully coordinated to protect both mother and baby.

Doctors Saved His Airway Before Completing His Delivery

As Isaac was partially delivered, the medical team worked quickly to establish a secure airway while he remained connected to his mother’s placenta.

The procedure was completed in almost half the time doctors had originally anticipated.

Two days later, surgeons successfully removed the teratoma from Isaac’s neck.

It was an extraordinary turning point for a family that had spent weeks preparing for a potentially life-threatening delivery.

Home After Just Two Weeks

Following surgery, Isaac remained in the neonatal intensive care unit while doctors monitored his breathing, feeding and recovery.

His parents had prepared themselves for a lengthy hospitalization, but their son exceeded expectations.

After just two weeks, Isaac was breathing and eating independently and was strong enough to return home.

His recovery brought immense relief to Jennifer and Angel, who had feared their son might struggle to survive his first moments outside the womb.

The Little Boy Who Defied Expectations

When Boston Children’s Hospital shared his story in August 2024, Isaac was eight months old and thriving.

He continued attending follow-up appointments to monitor for possible tumor recurrence and assess the development of his throat and vocal cords.

His parents described him as a happy, energetic baby whose personality was becoming more apparent every day.

For Jennifer and Angel, watching their son grow was especially meaningful after everything their family had endured.

The baby whose first breath once seemed uncertain was finally home, surrounded by the people who had fought so hard to give him that chance.

Source: Boston Children’s Hospital, August 6, 2024 — Beyond Expectations: Treating Isaac’s Teratoma Through an EXIT Procedure.