A mother whose son was born without legs and with one arm with a webbed hand said she never thought about aborting the pregnancy because she praised her ‘perfect’ little Bᴏʏ.
Rosie Higgs was warned before 11-month-old Henry’s birth he could have Intraamniotic ligament syndrome, where a baby’s limbs are inhiBɪᴛᴇd from developing normally in the Wᴏᴍʙ. But she ignored family and friends aSᴋɪɴg if she was planning to abort the pregnancy and called the decision ‘the best thing she’s ever made’.
Henry also had surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital to separate his webbed hands and now enjoys bouncing around in the tub, wiggling his tiny hands and reaching out to touch his toys. Rosie, 29, from Harrow, London said: ‘When I was told my baby would only have one arm – and no legs – I was so worried and upset. There’s no doubt in my mind that I’m keeping him – no matter how well I’m advised. He can pick up everything without any problems, which is really surprising. He is progressing very well. Henry is happy, he likes to sit in his high chair, but we have to be careful. He can’t use the bike because it wouldn’t be safe for him because he doesn’t have a lower limb’.
Henry is making very good progress. I’m not worried about his future. I know he will always be a little bit different but we take it day by day and I know he will be able to take on any challenge in the future.’
To make matters more difficult, Rosie gave birth while in confinement without a supportive mother, Paula, 55, and her partner Peter, 39, inside during the scan. But when Rosie brought the whole family home to see her sister, Alice, 13, and brother, Michael, seven, they didn’t keep an eye on her siblings. Rosie added: ‘Not being able to have her mother around during the birth was heartbreaking, especially when I knew Henry was at high ʀɪsᴋ. Luckily, the midwives were absolutely incredible. I was very stressed during my pregnancy and when Henry was born the midwives asked if I wanted to see him right away because I was so nervous. Scans can only tell you so much. It was a build-up and anxiety when he first showed up, I didn’t know what was going to happen. When Peter passed me my little Bᴏʏ I fell in love”
