Irina Cretu of London was told her unborn baby would most likely suffer from health issues. Doctors suggested she terminate the pregnancy. But Irina had longed to have a child, and since they couldn't pinpoint the specific problem, Irina decided to move forward with the pregnancy and give her baby a fighting chance.
She was shocked when her son, Albert, was born with extremely wrinkly skin, especially on his stomach area. She said he looked more like an old man than a newborn.
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Nurses rushed Albert to intensive care, where he was kept for over a month. Four days after she gave birth, Irina finally learned the root of her son's problems.
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Albert was diagnosed with prune belly syndrome, an exceptionally rare disorder that means he has no abdominal muscles. However, his family was about to learn that the bizarre syndrome comes with severe complications.
Not only does Albert not have abdominal muscles, but he also suffers from renal problems, kidney disease, and gastrointestinal complications as a result. "His syndrome can change very quickly; one day he can be absolutely fine, when the next he can be on death’s door," Irina told Caters News Agency.
Irina became hell-bent on finding a cure for her boy, but the surgery he needs is only available in the United States. "The surgery is going to take muscle from his thigh and transplant it into his abs, giving him the muscles that he’s missing," she says. "This will help with his digestion and respiratory function and hopefully eradicate all of the other problems he has faced because of the condition."
