‘Miracle’ Baby Is First In UK To Survive Being Born With Heart Outside Her Body

Fifty medics were on standby at her first surgery – one of three – which saw staff insert a breathing tube into her heart – Vanellope, at this time, was just 50 minutes old.

Days later, her chest was opened to make space for the heart, which then settled back into her chest after gravity took hold over the next fortnight.

A third operation inserted a mesh guard to protect her heart, in place of ribs and covered up the area with skin taken from under her arms.

Dean and Naomi named their brave girl after a character in the Disney film Wreck-It Ralph, and gave her the middle name, Hope.

Mum-of-three Naomi, 31, said:

Vanellope in the film is so stubborn and she turns into a princess at the end so it was so fitting.

Vanellope's name is undoubtedly apt and will hopefully serve as a source of strength, as doctors say she still has a long road to full recovery.

Consultant Anaesthetist Dr Nick Moore said:

She has a long way to go but so far at least she now has a chance at a future.

Vanellope is the first baby in the UK to survive a five-in-one-million condition known as ectopia cordis, which results in the heart growing outside the body as the baby develops in the womb.

June Davison, Senior Cardiac Nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said:

Ectopia cordis is an extremely rare congenital defect, because it’s so uncommon, there are very few treatment options.

The prognosis does depend on the severity, location and any other abnormalities.

While there are cases of surgical repair, this remains a very serious condition with a low chance of survival.