Baby 'Born Twice' Now Healthy Toddler

Macie McCartney made national headlines last year as the baby who was born twice. Now the 16-month old toddler from Laredo is back in Houston for a reunion with the doctors who saved her life.

“I do think she’s a miracle. Her personality is just very strong and very determined,” said Keri McCartney.

After just 25 weeks in her mother’s womb the unborn baby found herself in a fight for her life.
“She had this gigantic tumor the size of a grapefruit that was killing her,” said Dr. Darrell Cass. The family turned to Texas Children’s Hospital fetal center in Houston.

It was one of just four places in the world equipped to save little Macie’s life.

“It’s a very risky surgery and it’s on the cutting edge,” said Dr. Cass.

So cutting edge that Texas Children’s had never done a surgery like it before. Doctors removed the unborn baby from the womb and then removed the tumor before putting Macie back inside her mother’s belly to continue growing.

“She just didn’t quit fighting,” said Keri McCartney.

Macie Hope McCartney was born for the second time ten weeks later.

“Life doesn’t always go as smoothly as you like so what are you going to do with the cards being dealt,” said Chad McCartney. “We’ve learned a lot about life from this.”

Macie is developmentally normal but could need cosmetic surgery eventually on her backside. She’s one of 70 patients back in Houston this weekend to reunite with the doctors from Texas Children’s Hospital who saved their lives.