Archive · 3 Aug 2026
UK Baby's Birth Defect Repaired In Utero, Infant Thrives
A baby named Theo was born with a serious problem called complex gastroschisis, where his belly didn’t form right and his intestines were outside his body.
Doctors in Texas performed a special surgery while Theo was still in his mom’s womb, putting his intestines back inside.
The operation was done with a tiny keyhole approach and had no complications for either Theo or his mom.
Theo stayed in the womb until full term and was born healthy in February.
He is now five months old and doing well.
The parents hope this new surgery can be offered in the UK and help other babies with similar problems.
A 5‑month‑old baby named Theo survived a complex gastroschisis after a fetal surgery in Texas.
The operation was performed at 26 weeks gestation by Dr Michael Belfort’s team, making Theo the third child worldwide to undergo the procedure.
Parents Maisie Savage and Josh French, teachers from London, were referred from Great Ormond Street Hospital to Texas Children’s Hospital for the experimental trial.
The surgery involved a keyhole approach, returning the intestines to the abdomen while the mother remained in the womb, with no complications for either.
Theo was born at full term via vaginal delivery in February and is now thriving, with parents hopeful the technique could be offered in the UK.
- Who
- Parents Maisie Savage and Josh French, baby Theo, and Dr Michael Belfort’s surgical team
- What
- Fetal surgery to repair complex gastroschisis
- When
- Surgery performed at 26 weeks gestation in 2023; Theo born in February 2024
- Where
- Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, United States
- Why
- To correct a life‑threatening birth defect and improve survival chances
- Baby name
- Theo
- Condition
- Complex gastroschisis
- Surgery type
- Fetal surgery
- Hospital
- Texas Children’s Hospital
- Outcome
- Successful, no complications
- Birth
- Full term vaginal delivery
- Parents
- Maisie Savage, Josh French
- Age
- 5 months