Baby Born Twice Survives Rare Surgery at 25 Weeks

A baby born with a blocked airway that should have been fatal is now approaching his first birthday, thanks to a surgery so rare he was effectively born twice.

Cassian Joubert was diagnosed at 19 weeks in utero with congenital high airway obstruction syndrome, or CHAOS. The condition blocks an unborn baby's airway, causing fluid to build up in the lungs until the pressure squeezes the heart. Most babies with CHAOS don't survive.

When an initial procedure failed at Orlando Health Women's Institute Fetal Care Center, Dr. Emanuel Vlastos attempted something extraordinary at 25 weeks. He partially delivered Cassian through a cesarean section, bringing his head and arms outside the womb while keeping him connected to the placenta and his mother's life support.

The surgical team established an airway while Cassian was suspended between two worlds. Then they gently placed him back inside the uterus and closed the incision. His mother, Keishera Joubert, remained in the hospital until full delivery.

"It was a glimpse of the future," Keishera said about seeing her son for the first time during surgery. "It was a glimpse of a little baby boy that I would eventually take home from the hospital."

Vlastos confirmed it was the first successful surgery of its kind for a patient with Cassian's condition. The family had been given only a 20% to 25% chance of a positive outcome.

At 31 weeks, Keishera went into labor and delivered Cassian for the second time. He spent 132 days in the neonatal intensive care unit before coming home.

Why This Inspires

Cassian's story represents more than one family's miracle. This successful surgery opens a new pathway for treating CHAOS, a condition that has claimed countless lives. What was once considered nearly impossible is now documented and repeatable.

The breakthrough also showcases how maternal-fetal medicine continues advancing in ways that seemed like science fiction just years ago. Every success like Cassian's adds to medical knowledge that could save future babies facing similar diagnoses.

Now 8 months old, Cassian is a happy, healthy baby approaching a milestone most families celebrate once. The Jouberts plan two birthday parties: one marking the anniversary of his groundbreaking surgery, and another celebrating his actual birth.

"We're gonna have a birthday bash to celebrate a full year," Keishera said. Not many mothers can say they were still pregnant after having a C-section, but she's grateful to be one of them.