In the aftermath of an earthquake that left thousands dead in Turkey and Syria, residents of one town experienced a miracle — a baby’s survival after being born amidst the rubble.
According to news reports, the infant, a baby girl, was found under the debris of a five-story apartment building in the small town of Jinderis in Syria. Her umbilical cord was still attached to her mother, Afraa Abu Hadiya, who was found dead along with the rest of her family, including the baby’s father and four siblings.
The baby was found on Monday afternoon, more than 10 hours after the quake struck.
After her rescue from the rubble, the child was raced to a hospital in a nearby town, where she is currently said to be in stable condition. The child’s doctor, Dr. Hani Maarou, said that her body temperature had dropped to 95 degrees Fahrenheit and she has several cuts and lacerations, including a large bruise on her back.
According to reports, the girl’s family was trying to escape their apartment building when they got caught in its collapse. They were all found near the entrance. “[The baby] was found in front of her mother’s legs,” Maarou said. “After the dust and rocks were removed the girl was found alive.”
He said that she weighed seven pounds, indicating that she was full-term. Based on her body temperature, he believes that she was born several hours before being found — meaning her mother likely labored under the rubble for hours before giving birth and tragically succumbing to her injuries.
“Our only concern is the bruise on [the baby’s] back, and we have to see whether there is any problem with her spinal cord,” he said, noting that so far she appears to be moving her arms and legs normally. “She also arrived with hypothermia because of the harsh cold. We had to warm her up and administer calcium. Had the girl been left for an hour more, she would have died.”
