Syrian residents rescued a crying infant – believed to have been born in the rubble – following the devastating earthquake Monday.
The powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck on Monday morning wreaked havoc across parts of Turkey and Syria, and was followed by several aftershocks. Over 19,300 lives have been lost, and more victims are being found. However, amidst all the devastation, there are also stories of hope.
On Monday afternoon, rescuers saved a newborn baby who was trapped for 10+ hours under concrete amid the wreckage of her home following the earthquake. She remains in the hospital and is kept on an incubator, said the doctor treating the baby girl, Dr. Hani Maarouf.
Tragically, the newborn’s mother had passed away and the umbilical cord was still connected. It is heartbreaking to think of what this family has gone through.
A video of the rescue made its way onto social media, showing the moment when the newborn was brought out of danger and into safety. The man holding her had to act quickly, as he cut off the umbilical cord, wrapped her in a blanket, and rushed her to the hospital.
The baby had a dangerously low body temperature of 95°F and was covered in various bruises, with a large one on her back. Thankfully, she is in stable condition now.
According to Dr. Maarouf, it appears that the baby’s mother, Abu Hadiya, was conscious during the birth and probably passed away shortly after. If the girl had been born just before the quake, she would not have survived so long in the cold.
“Had the girl been left for an hour more, she would have died,” he said.
When the earthquake hit on Monday, Abu Hadiya, her husband, and four children apparently tried to escape their apartment building, but the structure collapsed on them. Their bodies were found near the building’s entrance, Ramadan Sleiman, a relative, told The Associated Press.
“She was found in front of her mother’s legs,” he said. “After the dust and rocks were removed the girl was found alive.”
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Dr. Maarouf reported that the baby weighed 7 pounds, which is a typical weight for newborns, suggesting she had been carried to term. He also explained their only worry is the bruise on her back and they’re monitoring it closely to make sure there aren’t any complications with her spine. Thus far he noted that she’s been demonstrating normal movement in her arms and legs.
On Tuesday, the baby’s mother, Abu Hadiya, and the girl’s father, Abdullah Turki Mleihan, along with their four other children were laid to rest in a cemetery on the outskirts of Jinderis.
Please pray for the newborn, her family, and all those affected by the devastating earthquake.