MIRACLE BABY RIO ASTOUNDS THE DOCTORS - Mum Sophie Packer says: ‘I just want him to be a normal, happy child’

Published: 12 November 2010
EXCLUSIVE by TOM FOOT

A BABY who was severely brain damaged in 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 after his brain was “rewired” while listening to the restorative melodies of the classical composer Mozart.

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

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

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

Now his mum Sophie is demanding answers from the hospital about why vital signs he was unwell were missed.

She said she repeatedly told midwives that meconium (infant stools ingested in the uterus) had seeped into the baby’s lungs during the birth.

She says her theory was downplayed despite tell-tale warning signs – in a later report, she was proved right – and that she was not seen by a paediatrician over 14 hours in the hospital.

Rio suffered two seizures and was put in a hospital incubator “with 50 wires coming out of him”. He received nine different kinds of drugs, including morphine, over 10 days of “hell”.

MRI scans showed the baby had suffered “bilateral asymmetric parasa­gital changes” (brain damage) likely to be caused by perinatal hypoxia-ischemia (lack of oxygen).

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 West End Extra, listed his 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 sounds of Mozart.

“I’d never listened to Mozart before in my life,” said Ms Packer, a DJ and third generation vegetarian.

Rio was a gurgling, smiling bundle of joy when the Extra dropped in at the family home on Wednesday.

A report from UCH 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: “He will always be my miracle baby.”

A UCLH spokesman said: “We are delighted that Rio is showing such encouraging signs. 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 baby was stable and the continuing observations did not indicate any cause for concern.

“Both senior midwives and neonatal paediatricians are trained to carry out these checks. Unfortunately Rio’s condition later deteriorated and he received appropriate specialist care.”