Little Laurel Phizacklea, a three-year-old girl from Cambridge, was diagnosed with a major exomphalos, a condition in which the abdominal muscles don’t close properly, causing some of the abdominal organs to remain outside the body. Laurel’s intestines, liver, and bowel were inside her umbilical cord but outside her abdomen. She had to be put on a ventilator and spent 13 weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit after her birth.

Her parents, Kelly and her brother Lee Wiseman, were initially worried if Laurel would ever be able to live a more normal life. But thanks to several intricate operations, Laurel has beaten the odds and is now living a normal life. She is a happy toddler who loves showing off her new tummy.

Initially, Laurel was scared to see her new-look stomach and nervous about changing clothes. But she has been able to adapt, bringing relief to her friends and family. Laurel’s homecoming was made special by her family, who worked together to create a back garden for this active and outdoorsy toddler. It was the most satisfying job for Lee Wiseman.

During Kelly’s pregnancy, there were fortnightly scans to check on Laurel’s progress. At two points, the parents were offered a termination, as doctors believed that Laurel would not survive birth. However, her parents decided to give her a chance, and she defied the medics’ predictions when she was born at Addenbrookes Hospital in June 2018.

Laurel was diagnosed with congenital scoliosis, a spinal deformity, and a hole in her heart. Due to the unusually large size of her exomphalos, doctors informed her parents that she would not be able to have the organs internalized until she turned three years old.

But following the operations, Laurel is doing well. Despite being told that she would need six to eight weeks in the hospital to recover, she was home within just one week. Laurel’s parents have to remind their daredevil child to calm down and allow herself to recover. She is now getting ready to attend pre-school this September and will be making the big step up to primary school next year.

Kelly is excited about this milestone for her daughter and hopes that she will be able to do more things independently, like playing with friends. Laurel’s journey is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the remarkable capabilities of modern medicine.