A toddler who survived blood clots in his brain and left arm in the womb which meant the “dead” limb was amputated at 10 days old is celebrating turning one by reaching for the skies on the swings in his local park. Born by emergency caesarean at 37 weeks on 11 July 2021 with a “bruised and blistered” left arm, after the limb was removed a further MRI scan revealed that Zack Reilly had also suffered a stroke before he was born, causing brain damage that could affect his mobility, muscle control and speech as he develops.
But the beaming boy has adapted brilliantly – celebrating turning one at a family barbecue as well as enjoying his first week at nursery, to the delight of his proud parents Royal Navy assistant careers advisor, Libby Francis, 29, and telecoms engineer, Owen Reilly, 28. Libby, who lives in Hull, East Yorkshire, said: “For the first few weeks of Zack’s life it felt like one thing after another was going wrong. It was just heartbreaking.”
She added: “But seeing how happy he is now, we are so grateful. We love him to bits and we wouldn’t change him for the world.” After meeting Owen in the Navy in 2016, Libby enjoyed a smooth pregnancy with Zack until the final weeks.
