Azalea Rowe's incredible will to survive has amazed doctors and her family. Login or signup to continue reading The 8-year-old, of Adamstown Heights, was born with her liver, bowel, gallbladder and stomach outside her body, covered only by a thin sac. She will undergo her second major surgery next month.
Her aunt Katie Broadhurst started a GoFundMe, titled " Azalea's Brave Battle : Support for Surgery and Recovery". "She is the most resilient little girl," Mrs Broadhurst said. Parents Clare and Dane Rowe were told about Azalea's condition during pregnancy, which doctors believed was "not compatible with life".
"She's been such a fighter from the get-go," Mrs Broadhurst said. "There are days when it's really hard for her. Recently finding out she needs surgery again has been difficult.
" Azalea was born with a rare condition called Pentalogy of Cantrell, which causes a combination of defects. The condition affected her abdominal wall and caused a hole in her heart, diminished lung capacity and a cleft sternum. In her early life, she spent nine weeks in John Hunter Children's Hospital, including six weeks in NICU ( neonatal intensive care unit ).
She then spent a further nine months receiving care through a "hospital in the home" program. For years, Azalea wore a brace to protect her fragile abdomen. But last year, she had an abdominal wall reconstruction.
"She has amazed us with her recovery," Mrs Broadhurst said. However, pain due to gallstones and frequent bouts of pancreatit.
