Before her birth, Macie McCartney faced more tribulations than most people do in a lifetime. Four months into Keri McCartney’s pregnancy, her unborn daughter Macie was diagnosed with a rare tumor on her tailbone. The fatal affliction hits one in 35,000 babies. The McCartney’s were able to find a health clinic that specialized in prenatal surgery. The Texas Children’s Fetal Center is one of only handful of hospitals that concentrates on prebirth operations.

Doctors were able to remove the tumor from Macie’s tailbone without removing her fully from her mother’s uterus. Thus, the surgical operation was unintrusive to the point of not indusing birth. Macie was able to be returned to her mother’s womb in time for her birth four months later. Macie had a healthy birth with no other complications. Perhaps a small scar may be all the reminder of the surgery but there is a larger birthmark that serves as a reminder to the McCarthy’s of Macy’s miracle: her middle name, Hope.

The fragility and wonder of birth is never to be taken lightly. A healthy respect for the sanctity of life is a standard by which all of us must measure. By showing humanity for even the youngest life, compassion is exercised time and time again.

To read more about this wonderful medical miracle, go here.