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As a veteran
photojournalist in Nashville, Tennessee, I was hired by USA
Today newspaper to photograph a spina bifida corrective surgical
procedure. It was to be performed on a twenty-one week old fetus in
utero at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. At that time, in 1999,
twenty-one weeks in utero was the earliest that the surgical team
would consider for surgery. The worst possible outcome would be that
the surgery would cause premature delivery, and no child born earlier
than twenty-three weeks had survived.
The tension
could be felt in the operating room as the surgery began. A typical
C-section incision was made to access the uterus, which was then
lifted out and laid at the junction of the mother's thighs. The entire
procedure would take place within the uterus, and no part of the child
was to breach the surgical opening. During the procedure, the position
of the fetus was adjusted by gently manipulating the outside of the
uterus. The entire surgical procedure on the child was completed in 1
hour and thirteen minutes. When it was over, the surgical team
breathed a sigh of relief, as did I.
As a doctor
asked me what speed of film I was using, out of the corner of my eye I
saw the uterus shake, but no one's hands were near it. It was shaking
from within. Suddenly, an entire arm thrust out of the opening, then
pulled back until just a little hand was showing. The doctor reached
over and lifted the hand, which reacted and squeezed the doctor's
finger. As if testing for strength, the doctor shook the tiny fist.
Samuel held firm. I took the picture! Wow! It happened so fast that
the nurse standing next to me asked, "What happened?"
"The child reached out," I said. "Oh. They do that all
the time," she responded.
The surgical
opening to the uterus was closed and the uterus was then put back into
the mother and the C-section opening was closed.
It was ten
days before I knew if the picture was even in focus. To ensure no
digital manipulation of images before they see them, USA Today
requires that film be submitted unprocessed. When the photo editor
finally phoned me he said, "It's the most incredible picture I've
ever seen."
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Michael Clancy
Note: For legal purposes, it must be stated that this Story
Behind the Picture is photojournalist Michael Clancy's opinion of the
events as they took place during the surgery for Samuel.
Photo
provide courtesy of photographer, Michael Clancy.
Please
click on this link to go to his website and support his efforts on
behalf of life.
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