A couple in India was forced to keep their premature baby in an icebox for five months in order to save his life because they had no other options. In October of last year, 34-year-old Aruna Chauhan gave birth to baby Mithilesh two months before his due date. He was a tiny 3 pounds 3 ounces at birth and was suffering from thyroid-related issues and prone to infection. He went straight to the Intensive Care Unit, where he should have stayed until he was well enough and strong enough to go home, but he was released 20 days later because Aruna and her husband Ramesh could not afford the mounting medical costs. They had borrowed as much money as they possibly could from friends and family and they had sought help from government run hospitals and charitable organizations, but nothing. So they took the baby home and put him in an ice chest for five months. What?!
Read more ¿Qué más?: Mom expecting triplets gets HUGE surprise during delivery!
Aruna says, "One doctor told us that if we couldn't afford to keep our baby in hospital we should try a Thermocol icebox with holes for ventilation and a 60-watt bulb to provide the right amount of warmth. He advised it was better than nothing and might save our baby. My husband bought the box from a nearby fish market and cut holes in it." Unbelievable!
The couple set a timer to remove him from the box every couple of hours to check his temperature.
Can you imagine having to keep your infant in an ice box because you can't afford medical care? It's awful and I find it deplorable that the staff at Alliance Hospital where the baby was born, would release him when he was in no condition to go home.
The family's story was picked up by a local paper and Wadia Hospital for Children, in Parel, Mumbai are now providing medical aid to the child free of charge. Thank you!
Aruna and Ramesh were able to keep Mithilesh alive in that ice box, but he continues to need care as he is severely underweight. It is a miracle that child has survived under such difficult conditions.
And there are other miracle babies that keep inspiring us. Here are 17 miracle babies that will make you believe anything is possible! –Additional reporting by Michelle Regalado
Image via Corbis Images
Harvey Sutton
Medics worked to revive Harvey Sutton for half hour. He was suffering from anemia, blood poisoning and brain bleeds after he was delivered by emergency C-section at 37 weeks. One his faint heartbeat was detected, he was frozen for three days and the unconventional treatment saved his life.
Allison and Wes Rhoa
The Rhoas became parents to identical triplet daughters, Ava, Avery and Alissa,despite that the chances of that happening through natural conception are about one-in-a-million!
April and Brad Dooley
Another couple, April and Brad Dooley, from Long Beach, California welcomed incredibly rare male identical triplets into the world on January 14.
Hannah and Tom Hepner
Hannah and Tom Herper had three naturally conceived identical triplets, all girls, back in November.
Kimberly and Craig Fugate
The Fugates were shocked when they discovered they were expecting triplets. But they were even more shocked when Kimberly went into labor at 28 weeks and doctors informed her she'd be giving birth to FOUR little girls, instead of the expected three. Oh my god, can you imagine?!
Zaheer and Indira Ali
The Alis only had one baby, but their daughter's birth was just as crazy as if they had multiples! Zaheer was forced to deliver his own baby not because they didn't make it the hospital, but because a maternity ward mix-up left them without a doctor or nurse!
Claire Ives
U.K. mom Claire Ives' baby, Edward, was diagnosed with a fatal heart condition. He had only five percent chance of survival so doctors decided to take drastic measures in order save his life, freezing his body for four whole days to slow his metabolism and prevent damage to his vital organs. Thankfully, it worked and baby was able to go home soon after!
Rebecca Hasler
U.K. mom Rebecca Hasler was induced at 36 weeks after doctors at a hospital diagnosed her with pre-eclampsia, a potentially life-threatening disease that can cause a baby's heartbeat to become irregular. So when Hasler's daughter, Lily Cracknell, didn't start crying like most babies do after being delivered, the medics ended up saving her life by wrapping Lily in a cooling bag for three days.
