These photographs were taken during in utero

fetal surgery to correct spina bifida lesions

at
Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee,
a pioneer and leader in successful in utero fetal surgery,
by a skilled surgical team including
Dr. Joseph Bruner and Dr. Noel Tulipan
for
Sarah Marie Switzer, 24-week-old baby
on July 1, 1999
and
Samuel Alexander Armas, 21-week-old baby
on August 19, 1999
 Sarah Marie Switzer
24-week-old baby
Surgeons hold up the hand and arm of 24-week-old
baby
Sarah Marie Switzer
during spina bifida surgery in utero
with Surgeon Joseph Bruner at Vanderbilt UMC.

Sarah Marie Switzer (in utero)

Born on August 22, 1999
Photos taken on July 1, 1999 by Max Aguilera
Hellweg
 Sarah Marie Switzer - 24-week-old baby

This photograph was published in the December 1999 issue

of Life magazine. It shows groundbreaking fetal surgery
being performed at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in
Nashville, Tennessee.

In this surgery, Dr. Joseph Bruner gently lifts the right arm of
the
24-week-old fetus in Trish Switzer’s womb during surgery to
repair
spina bifida, one of the most crippling birth defects.

The Life article “Born Twice” explains how Dr. Bruner and
other doctors at Vanderbilt UMC have pioneered a technique
to
operate on fetuses in the womb three to four months
before their normal delivery dates.

This surgery, in which doctors open the womb, operate on

the fetus, and then sew the womb back up, offers images of
life before birth that had never been seen before 1999. The
Life story discusses the journey of Trish and Mike Switzer and
the birth of their daughter, Sarah Marie.

The photographs were taken by Max Aguilera Hellweg.

Sarah Switzer - 24-week-old baby – view 1
Sarah Switzer - 24-week-old baby – view 2
Sarah Switzer - 24-week-old baby – view 3
 Samuel Alexander Armas
21-week-old baby

Surgeon touches the hand of 21-week-old baby

Samuel Alexander Armas
during spina bifida surgery in utero
with Surgeon Joseph Bruner at Vanderbilt UMC.

Samuel Alexander Armas (in utero)

Born on December 2, 1999
Photos taken on August 19, 1999 by Michael Clancy
 Samuel Alexander Armas - 21-week-old baby

This photograph was published in the September 1999 issue of

USA Today. It shows groundbreaking fetal surgery being
performed at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville,
Tennessee.

In this surgery, Dr. Joseph Bruner gently touches the hand of the
21-week-old fetus in Julie Armas’ womb during surgery to repair
spina bifida, one of the most crippling birth defects.

Dr. Bruner and other doctors at Vanderbilt UMC have pioneered a

technique
to operate on fetuses in the womb
three to four months before their normal delivery dates.

This surgery, in which doctors open the womb, operate on the

fetus, and then sew
the womb back up, offers images of life before birth that had
never been seen
before 1999. The story discusses the journey of
Julie and Alex Armas and the birth of their son, Samuel Alexander.

The photographs were taken by Michael Clancy.

Samuel Armas - 21-week-old baby – view 1
Samuel Armas - 21-week-old baby – view 2
Samuel Armas - 21-week-old baby – view 3
Samuel Armas - 21-week-old baby – view 4
Samuel Armas - 21-week-old baby – view 5
Samuel Armas - 21-week-old baby – view 6
Samuel Armas - 21-week-old baby – view 7
 Dr. Joseph Bruner (left) and Dr. Noel Tulipan were swarmed by former patients at a
recent reunion of fetal-surgery families. (photo by Anne Rayner)

First study results in on fetal surgery pioneered at VUMC

By: Nancy Humphrey, 11/12/1999, Reporter, Vanderbilt Medical Center‘s Weekly Newspaper
“The first comprehensive follow-up of 29 babies, born after undergoing fetal surgery at
Vanderbilt University Medical Center to repair spina bifida,
shows a significant reduction in the need for shunts to relieve hydrocephalus….”
 These beautiful photographs, the full stories of these babies, born
twice,
their births, their current lives, and comments by their parents
are in the public arena.
All photographs and information are searchable on the internet,
and are available from various websites for download and use.

A few of the many public resources that were reviewed include:

Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, website
http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu
http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/reporter/index.html?ID=957
On the Frontier of Fetal Surgery, Fall 1999, Vol. 16, No. III, Vanderbilt Medicine

http://www.physiciansforlife.org/content/view/258/43/
http://www.famouspictures.org/mag/index.php?title=Fetus_hand_reaches_out
http://www.nrlc.org/news/1999/NRL1299/surg.html
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1012548/posts
http://blog.al.com/living-times/2008/10/conquering_spina_bifida.html
http://www.nrlc.org/News/2003/NRL10/an_update_on_samuel_armas.htm
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,519181,00.html

http://www.michaelclancy.com
http://www.maxaguilerahellweg.com