A COUPLE from Yate have travelled to Germany for pioneering surgery on their unborn baby.

Georgia Axford, 19, and Tyler Kelly, 20, found out only four weeks ago that their baby has spina bifida.

They are now at the University Hospital Gießen, where yesterday their daughter received fetoscoptic surgery while still in the womb.

This type of treatment is currently unavailable in the UK and is not funded by the NHS, so Georgia and Tyler have taken out a loan of £9,000 to pay for it.

The baby’s condition emerged during the 20-week scan.

“We were both really excited when I found out I was pregnant,” said Georgia.

“And so excited, when we went for our 12 week scan, to be able to get a photograph to see our baby and to be able to show our friends and family.

“We couldn’t wait for our 20 week scan, when we were so hoping to find out our baby’s gender.

“Most of all we wanted to find out if our baby was healthy,” she said.

“But we knew from the midwife’s face and our hearts sunk as we gathered that there was something not quite right.”

Following more scans, it was confirmed that the baby had spina bifida.

This is when a baby’s spine and spinal cord don’t develop properly in the womb, causing a gap in the spine.

The surgery in Germany aims to close the gap and help join the baby’s spine, whilst she is still in the womb. 

“We spent a lot of time thinking about it, as it’s quite a scary operation,” said Georgia.

“But time is of the essence, as the surgery needs to be done by the 26th week of pregnancy.

“We asked the consultant at Southmead Hospital what he would do if he was in our position, and he recommended this surgery.

“We want to do anything for our little girl so we took out a loan for £9,000 to go to Germany.

“I do not know when we will return as it depends on how well I recover and also how the baby is,” said Georgia.

To help Georgia and Tyler pay for the cost of the operation, a fundraising page has been set up, and a charity event is being held at the White Lion in Yate on Sunday, June 24, from 2pm.

This will include an auction, a raffle, a bouncy castle, face painting, food and more. Everyone is welcome.

“Do come and join us to help give this baby the very best start in life,” said Georgia’s mum, Rachel Axford.

To donate visit: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/babygoperationfund