LITTLE RIO PACKER’S RECOVERY IS ‘A MIRACLE’

Published: 11th November, 2010
EXCLUSIVE by TOM FOOT

A BABY who was severely brain-damaged at University College Hospital has shocked medical experts after making an astonishing recovery against the odds.

Rio Packer is being dubbed the “miracle baby” after proving some of the country’s top neuroscientists wrong. His brain was “rewired” while listening to the restorative melodies of the classical composer Mozart.

Consultants sent mum Sophie home warning the boy would be blind, deaf or have cerebral palsy after complications arose during his birth on May 19.

Five months later the bright-eyed toddler has been given the virtual all-clear with no signs of lasting damage, leaving experts stunned. 

Now Sophie, who lives in Bloomsbury, is demanding answers from the hospital about why vital signs he was unwell were missed.

She says she raised the alarm four times ­during 14 hours in the UCH birthing centre – but was only seen by a paediatrician after little Rio stopped breathing.

The hospital said it was “delighted” by the recovery but denies any wrongdoing.

‘He’ll always be my miracle baby’

Words of a mother who claims that her fears about tiny Rio were dismissed until he stopped breathing

IT is supposed to be a moment of blissful serenity: a dreamy scene when, after months of expectation, a mother locks eyes with her new-born baby for the first time.

But when little Rio Packer was born unexpectedly at home in Bloomsbury, his mother Sophie was filled with worry. His face was pale, his body limp and listless; he flushed hot then cold.

Her concerns were repeatedly waved away at University College Hospital – but hours later the boy stopped breathing in his mother’s arms, suffering severe brain injuries that left consultants predicting lasting damage and disability.

Yet five months later, Rio is being dubbed the “miracle baby” following a remarkable recovery that has stunned neuro­scientists and challenged conventional wisdom about the brain. 

Ms Packer, who lives in Foundling Court at the   Brunswick Centre, said: “The birth of your baby is supposed to be the best time of your life. But it turned into a nightmare.”

The single mum raised the alarm four times – but it was not until her baby stopped breathing that the toddler was seen by a paediatrician.

She was later told her baby would be either deaf, blind or have cerebral palsy – a debilitating brain condition affecting movement and posture – after a MRI scan revealed severe damage to the back, left and right sides of Rio’s brain.

She maintains she repeatedly told midwives that meconium (the new-born baby’s first faeces, made up of materials ingested in the uterus) had seeped into the baby’s lungs during the frantic birth.

She says her theory was downplayed despite  warning signs – in a later report, she was proved right. The hospital has conducted a review but is defending its position.

Ms Packer said: “I had pressed the buzzer four times over 14 hours in that room. He was going hot and cold – there were clear signs. But each time the midwife came in and told me not to worry. Then Rio went blue and I pulled the emergency cord. The paediatricians were amazing – they saved his life. But what I don’t understand is how I can be in a hospital for 14 hours but not be seen by one until my baby ‘died’ in my arms.”

Rio suffered two seizures and was rushed into a hospital incubator “with 50 wires coming out of him”. He was pumped with nine kinds of drugs – including morphine – over 10 days of “hell”.

MRI scans showed the baby had suffered “bilateral asymmetric para­sagittal changes” (brain damage), likely to be caused by perinatal hypoxia-ischemia (lack of oxygen). Ms Packer said: “Can you imagine having someone tell you your child will never look into your eyes – never hear your voice? I went home with the baby on my own – my whole world was torn apart.”

Three weeks later, consultants filed a report after a series of tests by a panel of experts confirmed baby Rio was at “high risk of developmental problems”.

The report, seen by the New Journal, listed the baby’s symptoms, in­cluding “tremors”, “start­lings”, “rolling eyes”, “whimpers” and “intermittent fisting”.

It added: “His eyes fix and trail and there is no squint... he is not focusing on stimulus.”

Ms Packer said: “At first I didn’t know what to do. But then I thought: I’m not going to let you take my baby away from me like that.”

She read a book about how, with the right kind of stimulus, brain damaged children transfer vital functions away from the affected area. Humans typically use just 10 per cent of the brain. 

Professor of paediatric neuroscience Janet Eyre, who conducted a major study into the theory of “neuroplasticity” at Newcastle University, said: “The brain is a remarkable organ and we have known for some time that it has this plasticity which allows one part of the brain to take on the functions of a damaged area.”

Ms Packer played her part by giving her baby daily massages to the restorative sounds of Mozart. “I’d never listened to Mozart before in my life,” said Ms Packer, a DJ and third-generation vegetarian. “It sounds a bit loopy, but I thought it would make a connection. It’s all mother’s intuition really.”

Rio was a gurgling, bundle of joy when the New Journal dropped in at the family home yesterday (Wednes­day). Ms Packer is over the moon that the same experts who had written him off have now signalled a virtual all-clear.

A report from a UCH  consultant at 11 weeks said Rio had “improved tremendously from the last time I saw him”, adding: “The mother is making a huge effort, using techniques for improving sensory output.”

Ms Packer said: “First it was his eyesight, then they said his hearing was OK. When I heard there are no real concerns I was like ‘Yes’. Of course, I don’t want to speak too soon, but I just feel like he’s ok now – I can tell. I just want him to be a normal, happy child. But he will always be my miracle baby.”

A hospital spokesman said: “We are delighted Rio is showing such encouraging signs. However, we are disappointed that Ms Packer feels she did not receive appropriate care at University College Hospital.”

He added that it was standard practice for the hospital trust to review cases where babies suffer complications. No­body had been sacked or disciplined in this case.

“Our review into Rio’s care confirmed that appropriate procedures were followed, including keeping him under close observation with regular contact between the midwife and neonatal paediatrician,” the spokes­man added. “The baby was stable and the continuing observations did not indicate any cause for concern. A thorough examination was carried out by a senior midwife and this showed the baby to be well at the time. Both senior midwives and neonatal paediatricians are trained to carry out these checks.”

When baby Rio’s condition deteriorated he received appropriate ­specialist care, the spokesman added.