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An extraordinary birth. She's so cute. This is Misha. She's reacted very well. A little girl born in France on the 12th of February 2021. A miracle baby, who came into the world thanks to medical genius. A happy ending to several years of hope and doubt for her parents, Deborah and Pierre. We meet them for the first time in Luberon in December 2018. A family walk with Deborah, Pierre and her parents.
At 33, she is a swimming teacher. Her husband, 32 years old, is an executive of a nautical leisure company. They've been together for over 10 years now. I think we're there now, it's amazing. Brigitte, Deborah's mother, and Jean-Luc, her father, live thousands of kilometres away in Mayotte. Jean Luc should take up photography. It's pure art. There as well. That was me, I turned on the flash. They came to support the young couple as they embark on a life-changing period of their lives.
Already they are very happy, they are a beautiful couple. What they miss is the baby and I believe that everything that must happen will happen. A baby. An unattainable dream for this young couple, as Déborah suffers from a rare illness. And as of now, an incurable one. She was born without a uterus, and so she cannot bear children. She discovered her infertility as a teenager complicating a big part of her life. As a young girl, it affected the way I built myself, of feeling not completely like a woman.
Of feeling that there was something wrong with your love relationships, it was like a sword of Damocles. As if you were hiding something, so yes, I went through very dark times, and it was not easy. I'm lucky to find my husband who accepted me as I was, who loves me for what I am. And who told me that I chose you, and if we have a child or not, it will be something else. But it's you that I want first and foremost, not the potential child that you could give me. Even if she explained to me that it wasn't my fault, we still feel a little responsible.
We say to ourselves I didn't give her the thing that. Because first of all being a woman, it's procreating I mean so we definitely feel a little guilty. Deborah was about to give up, when a few years ago she learned that a team of French doctors had launched a revolutionary project, perhaps a crazy one. To transplant a uterus to a woman without one. This seemingly unimaginable operation could now allow her to give life. Deborah throws herself wholeheartedly into the adventure. For nearly three years, we've followed their unusual journey. When we talked about a uterus transplant, we said it won't work.
You just have to go for it. At the Foch hospital, we were granted exceptional access to behind the scenes of the first uterus transplant ever performed in France. It's the big day, this is the day when hope is allowed. We trust in it now. A medical adventure, but also a human adventure, marked by moments of hope. And here is the embryo, have you seen it? The white spot. And doubt. I am afraid of not being able to achieve this feat, this miracle. Is your husband here? Yes, he is here, he arrived yesterday morning.
An adventure where the courage and support of loved ones have the power to change everything. Kisses. December 2018. I'll take a ham and cheese! - Gruyere. Yes. Deborah, her parents and her two brothers get together in anticipation of next year's big project. Cheers! With her husband Pierre, Deborah will participate in a medical adventure never done before in France. A uterus transplant.
An incredible scientific procedure, but also a very deep family commitment. The woman who will give her uterus to Deborah is not deceased, nor an anonymous donor. But Deborah's own mother, Brigitte, 59 years old, has decided to give her uterus to her daughter. I had always said if it's possible I'll give you my uterus but at the time it wasn't done. And so she just asked me. If it was still valid, if the offer is still valid. If that's your final word! And that's when we said we're going to meet with the team. We need Dad to be there, because it's your body, but that's a decision we have to make with your spouse. As soon as we got into the details, obviously there were risks, but for us the risk was worth it.
The whole family has agreed. I think we can count on each other. My wife is kind, she's the best. Deborah and her mother will go through this extraordinary double operation together to make this miracle of life a reality, to give her uterus to her child, giving to Deborah what she was born without. Deborah's disease is called MRKH syndrome. 150 women like her are born without a uterus every year. Deborah does not have a uterus, but she does have ovaries.
She can therefore, with the sperm of her husband, conceive her own embryo, but cannot carry it. The extraordinary project she is involved in is to transplant her own mother's uterus, an organ of just a few centimetres which grows in size when it carries a child. The uterus does not age much, so it can be removed at any age. And allow a pregnancy. Suresnes, near Paris.
At the Foch hospital. This is the man at the origin of this medical revolution. How are you? Hello. At 57 years old, Professor Ayoubi is a big name in medicine. A surgeon and a university professor, He is also head of the gynaecological department in the hospital. What would be good is if there was a small group, like that to really coordinate all the actions. For nearly 10 years, he has been working with his entire team of around 20 people to make this transplant possible. We can include it for the donor since the protocol does not specify.
Gynaecologist Aurélie Revault and surgeon Marie Carbonelle have been following the project from the beginning. For the donor, who had an epidural and will be hospitalized. After being granted all the necessary authorizations, the team had to select the best profiles, out of over 250 couples who volunteered to participate. Deborah and her mother were chosen for their compatibility, their perfect health and their psychological stability. Today, Professor Ayoubi must see Brigitte to give her the results of one last test, which could bring everything back into question.
Good morning, Sir and Madam! Hello, how are you? - Good, hello. A test on the quality of the blood vessels in her uterus. The results confirm what I told you yesterday. It's good, it's good? - The arteriogram is normal, good. That was the last step. We made sure that she had a uterus that was suitable for a future pregnancy, because that's the goal. So today we can say that there are no more obstacles to carrying out the transplant. And we're ready for the big step next year.
Goodbye! The big step, a medical first as the same uterus will give life, once again All mothers will understand it. To allow your child to be able to give life is incredible. Even more as it's with the same womb. With the same womb that gave birth to her. Yes, her baby will develop in the womb that she developed in, it's really funny. It's emotional for you? - Yes, of course.
It is true that many people when I speak about it a little bit they tell me that it's courageous. But I say I do not know if it's the courage of a mother for her child. She would give, someone who gives her kidney, or another part of her body. For your child you. I don't feel like a hero is what I mean. - Do you think so? Normal, natural. There you go. Brigitte and her husband Jean-Luc return to Mayotte. The next step for Deborah is the in vitro fertilization, which will happen before the transplant.
It will take place in January 2019, a crucial step for Deborah and her family. Here we go. She will form her own embryos with her oocytes and her husband's sperm. Your husband is here to do the collection. Yes! They will collect her oocytes. At the same time, Pierre is collecting his sperm. Because it's good to have a nice uterus but it's even better to have embryos to put inside! We have to have both! The uterus isn't everything! We need both. Take a deep breath!
This is the little catheter that is in place to put you to sleep during the anesthesia. Everything looks good to me. Professor Ayubi will perform the procedure. Deborah is under general anaesthesia. You are going to fall asleep quietly. Think of a place where you feel good, where you are safe. You are going to fall asleep.
He takes out the eggs one by one. The nurse then passes them to a colleague, who will count them. In the end, a few dozen oocytes are put in contact with thousands of sperm. This is the beginning of life. Fertilisation begins. I'm going to put them back in the warmth. And we're going to continue and we're going to do this for all the oocytes! The more embryos we have, the more we will have the choice of the embryo to transfer.
And the faster we hope to achieve a successful transplant. As in all IVF procedures, the embryo that is developing the best is chosen to be transplanted. The development of the embryos is monitored for several days. And five days later, it is time for Deborah's results. Hello Mrs B. - Yes, hello. So I've come to give you some news that is very good. It worked very well because we have 34 frozen embryos. 34? 34 exactly, so on Saturday we had 30 frozen ones and yesterday we got four more.
Wow. Yes, that's right, it's great, it worked very well, we're very happy with the result. Oh yes, it's great. Thank you so much! - Goodbye! These 34 embryos are frozen in liquid nitrogen. One of them will be transferred to Deborah's new womb, if the transplant works. The finest doctors at the Foch hospital are working with the best specialists from abroad. Today, Deborah will meet Swedish surgeons who will carry out the uterus transplant alongside Professor Ayubi.
Deborah, nice to meet you. Matthias Brandstrom and Pernilla Darmkala are pioneers in their field. They performed the world's first womb transplant in 2014. Since then, they have taken their methods abroad. It's very safe in our hands. And nine babies so far. Two pregnancy ongoing And everyone is safe, the baby. the baby is fine, all the babies are fine.
Beautiful. I think that should work. it's a great chance. The transplant is scheduled in a few weeks' time. Throughout this journey, Deborah doesn't need to worry about money. The experimental treatments are not reimbursed by Social Security. However, the Foch Hospital Foundation covers all her costs. The young woman, a swimming teacher, could never have afforded the cost of such a procedure.
It's my whole life. I fell into it when I was little. I started when I was 5 years old and I never really stopped. She is a former synchronised swimmer champion. Okay girls! The last ones were much better, I had more impact, more heart, more control over the head. I really saw the difference. Okay, the same for Chloé! Today, she is preparing the under-16s for a competition. In place! Her experiences in high-level sport have helped her to overcome the obstacles linked to her illness. That's exactly it girls!
Today, swimming helps her take her mind off the transplant. Sport is part of my life, I'm a very active person. There isn't a day when I don't do sport. So even more so in stressful situations or while waiting for the transplant. It allows me to free my emotions, to relax myself, to lighten up, to de-stress. Yes, sport helps me to do all this. Deborah also finds peace in the fact that she will be participating in an adventure that goes beyond her to advance science, to help those who, like her, don't have a uterus. She knows that her fight will be useful to others, but for the moment she wants to believe in her lucky star.
In the spring of 2019, Brigitte and Deborah are back at the Foch hospital. In two days, the uterus transplant will take place. That's yours. 2 versions. Donating an organ while you are still alive is extremely well regulated in France. The Biomedicine Agency, a top French medical authority, has given their authorisation. This consent must be given free of charge, without pressure, and with full awareness of the risks taken. The list of complications.
Agitation, hypertension. Hypothermia. The first time I said yes, well I could die! As they used to say: You're a healthy person, and we're going to operate on you even though you have nothing! In the end, it's not harmless to give your body as a living person. It's a risk I'm prepared to take. But I tell myself I hope it doesn't happen! You have to sign. l, the undersigned. Tomorrow, Brigitte and Deborah will be admitted into hospital for several weeks.
So, before this long hospitalisation, the whole family goes to a restaurant with Ornella, Deborah's best friend. On the one hand you can see the end of the wait. At the same time this is where it all begins. You won't be the same after this weekend. I sleep for one hour and I get an organ! That's one less hour of stress! One less hour to think about! Now we're having a little treat, we're French, a little glass of wine, some good food. Thank you! It looks good. It's a mixture of excitement and fear for everyone too.
The emotion. What are you thinking? Nothing in particular. It's. Are you scared? No, no, it's tears. The emotion, the fact that we're so close. There's a bridge, I'm going over it, that's what it's going to be. It's the day before the transplant. At the hospital, Deborah and her mother both have their own room. You have a view of the Eiffel Tower.
I said that but I was only joking. It's amazing! Brigitte will be operated on first. Deborah will only go to the operating theatre once her mother's operation is over and when the teams have made sure that the uterus is not damaged. We'll come and inform you and if we're not informing you, we're operating. And we'll put you to sleep at the right moment. We'll only put you to sleep if everything is perfect. If we put you down, everything is fine. Thank you. The risk of rejection after the transplant is high.
Deborah will stay here for a fortnight, under supervision. Meanwhile, the last meetings before this extremely complex double operation. The teams are impressive. Three Swedish surgeons and three French surgeons, including Professor Ayubi, will operate. Yes, it's ready to start at 8. There are also two anaesthetists, a French one and a Swedish, and a dozen nurses on standby.
Everyone is focused on their task. Can we prepare the table in advance? We take the robot away. We put the table in its place. And then it takes the place of the robot. The technology that will be used is very advanced. A large part of the operation will be done with a robot. Brigitte's operation will last more than two years. Ten hours. We do it very meticulous instead of doing it fast. We know that is the most important thing. Little tissue trauma, little bleeding and a good stable patient and then we will have good results.
Thank you so much. See you tomorrow. Everything is now ready for this historic operation. They will meet at 5 am the next day. The 31st of March 2019. The Foch Hospital is deserted. The operation is planned for Sunday so that it can be performed in the most tranquil conditions. It will take place in the basement. Only the transplant teams are allowed inside the operating theatre.
Hello everybody. Good morning. Everything is OK? Of course. To be able to film this moment, behind the scenes of the first uterus transplant to take place in France, is truly exceptional. Brigitte's operating room is on the left in block 15. Deborah, just next door, will be operated on in block 14. It is six o'clock in the morning. Brigitte has been prepared first. She's waiting to be picked up. We're lucky. We're the first ones on the protocol, there are some who would have liked to be here. But it will give hope to other women, that's the good thing.
In a year and a half you'll be back here to give birth! World champion! Good morning! Did you sleep well? - Yes? You too I hope? We all slept well. Don't forget your little cap. Well my little mummy is thinking of lots of nice, positive things. And then we will be together in the recovery room. Debo is going to cry?
Come on. We will go calmly. I love you mum! I'll start you on the medicine. The nurses have their tasks, they know what to do. The surgeons also. The anaesthetist is in progress, everyone knows what they have to do. Extracting the uterus is not the most difficult thing. You have to extract the vessels. And you need enough length of vessels to be able to connect the vessels of the donor and the recipient.
You need about 8 centimetres of vessels so you have to dissect these vessels so you don't damage them. It's this whole step that takes time. Scalpel. It's Mr Ayoubi who makes the incision! It's perfect! I hope everything is ok. I'm trying to imagine where they're up to. I think she's asleep now, they've opened. 10 hours is a lot of time, that's when you see the delicate precision of the work.
I'm thinking about her a lot and I'm sending lots of positive vibes so that everything goes well. What she is doing is huge, she is doing it for me. I'm touched because every person has their own way of expressing their feelings, their love. Sometimes for people it's more like actions and this one is the most beautiful gesture of love that you can do. And it's the most beautiful gift that she gave me after giving me life!
It's midday. The operation to remove Brigitte's uterus has been going on for five hours, without a break. To eat, the teams take turns. Would you like something to drink Mr Ayoubi? - I'll drink yes, I'll even eat. You see everything is good? But even during the breaks, the doctors keep an eye on the operation, which is broadcast live. It's important to know where they stand so as not to lose track of things. Hello. I've come to give you an update. Everything is going well.
It's long, that's normal. One side has been done, the second side is being done. Well, that's fine. Is she okay? The vitals? She didn't bleed, so it's going very well, the vessels are fine. We're going slowly but surely. I'I see you later. Thank you for coming by. At 6pm, after a day of waiting, the uterus is intact and will soon be ready. It's Deborah's turn to go to the operating theatre.
I put on my little cap. No braces, no lenses, no piercings. Nothing at all. Do I put on my little slippers? If you don't wake up I'll kill you! I love you! My baby. I love you. See you soon. We are with you! All this world, all this is good! Is everything still alright with mum? Everything is fine, yes.
In the basement, Deborah's operation begins. In the meantime, Brigitte's uterus is prepared. They prepare the ground well so that it is quick. The idea is that the transplant remains in the air for as short a time as possible so that it can be transferred. It's crazy to have both at the same time, it's double the emotion. We only have one girl! The other two are guys. But we keep our fingers crossed, and we know it's going to be okay.
11pm at last. This is the moment. In the hands of one of the surgeons, Brigitte's uterus passes from one block to the other. A small organ the size of a pear. The same one that carried Deborah 34 years ago. Her mother's organ, alive and preserved, will be transplanted to her. I'll let you wake up. We'll call your husband later.
In block 14 The uterus is being transplanted. It is connected to Deborah's body Vessel by vessel We're going to do the doppler, to see the flow of the vessels. If it's good we're finished. How far along are we? We started at 8 o'clock, almost midnight. It's hard to count! It's been a while since we've counted! Already 16 hours of operating and at 2 o'clock in the morning the first miracle happens. Deborah's blood is flowing into her new uterus.
The transplant is a success. Professor Ayubi leaves exhausted. So! It was good! No issue, no problem. Even among all the cases we did in Sweden that the Swedish team has already done, it's one of the best. So you are emotional? Tired! Satisfied, but cautious for the future. This is a big step. Come! Before leaving, the whole team meets for a photo that will go down in history. Bravo!
It's been three days since the transplant. Yes? Hello. Despite the intensity of the operation, Deborah and her mother are already up and about. ok? - Yes. Here, I brought you this! A lady brought it to me. I've already read it on my phone. The two women find it hard to imagine that in Deborah's belly is her mother's womb. At the beginning, on the first day, on the first three days, I was talking to her.
I was telling her to go and take your place, I was telling her that you are an integral part of her. But it's true that it goes fast! And then the human body is just incredible, to be able to take over an organ in three days. I can't imagine my uterus inside you, you see I've never really been there. Yeah, it's a crazy story. In any case, my job is over. It's up to you now. Deborah's job now is to give herself two injections a day, as well as a variety of drugs. Usually in the morning and in the evening I give myself the anti-rejection drugs.
A heavy treatment to prevent her body from rejecting the transplanted organ. Deborah will only keep her mother's uterus for two potential pregnancies. Afterwards, it will be removed to prevent any complications. But for the moment, everything is going well. And 28 days after the operation, at the age of 34, Deborah has her first period. The operation was so successful that three weeks later, the mother and daughter can both leave their room to go out for a walk.
She's strong, tough, like us! It's good to get some fresh air, a change of scenery from the hospital walls. A change of context, a change of view. It's positive. It's good, it feels like going home. If all goes well, the transfer of the embryo into Deborah's uterus is planned for spring 2020, exactly one year after the operation. A year of waiting punctuated by many trips to Paris and back, between hospital checks and ultrasounds, with Professor Ayubi.
8,75 the endometrium. Everything is fine. Pierre and Deborah even know the date of their embryo transfer. It will be on the 31st of March 2020. But nothing will go as planned. A few days before the transfer, the whole country went into lockdown due to Covid-19. All non-vital medical operations are suspended. And Deborah, a transplant patient, is particularly fragile. A hard blow for the couple.
She can't afford to pick up the slightest bit of dirt lying around. It's not possible. When she called me I wasn't surprised. Although I felt sorry for her because she was crying, I feel sorry for her. But we're not going to take the transplant away from her and cancel everything at once. It's true that it's frustrating, we're almost there and bam. At the time it was very hard because we were just about to reach the stage we had been waiting for! It was a disappointment and it brought me back to a feeling of failure. The embryo transfer is suspended until further notice.
Pierre and Deborah wait for four long months. On 17 July 2020, The embryo transfer will finally take place. The couple is back at the Foch hospital. Hello Déborah. - Hello Professor. Is everything alright? - Everything's good. This is the big day! So we have a good embryo on the 5th day of development that has resisted the thawing process well. We will transfer it. Like in normal IVF procedures, the couple's embryo will be placed in her uterus. And here is the embryo, can you see it?
It's sucked into the catheter, it's passed through it. So here it comes! You see the catheter arrive, there it is. You see it move forward! One two three! The white spot! Yes you can see it! It's perfect. A very great emotion. It was very, very special, very exciting too. And then to see this patient so hopeful, so optimistic, so enthusiastic, which can be seen in her eyes it gives us a lesson in courage and patience,
so there's hope, we cross our fingers and wait. At this stage, it is impossible to know whether the embryo will attach and result in a pregnancy. Only 40% of IVF cases, fewer than one in two, are successful. In 10 days' time, a pregnancy test will be able to tell whether Deborah is pregnant. But after years of waiting, these 10 short days. feel like the longest, especially since Deborah has been bleeding a little. And for the first time, the young couple is filled with doubt.
I see her, she's getting up, she doesn't know what to do! She's trying to look after herself. Yes, I'm afraid. I'm afraid we won't make it. That I won't make it. Yeah. Strangely, I've never had as much doubt as I do now, you're more negative. She's totally afraid that everything will stop, that it will never work, that we'll have one IVF after another. I'm trying to stay afloat a little bit everywhere, not to be excessive in my work and not to be excessive with her. Not to overprotect her either. As it's not good to overprotect. We have to stay in reality.
It's 5 o'clock in the morning, today, Deborah and Pierre will finally find out Are you ready? She will do a urine test. I don't know what to think anymore. A bit stressful. I don't know, I need you to check! One lighter, one darker. Well that means you're pregnant now! Wait a minute, wait a minute!
I think there's a second bar! No? - Yes, it's a second bar! We didn't really believe it. You are moved? -Yes. You're reassured now? - Yes A coffee? - I'm not allowed coffee! The next day, a blood test confirms the pregnancy. The revolutionary transplant has kept all its promises. Deborah calls professor Ayubi Hello Professor. I have the results!
I don't know if it says positive or negative, it's a number. How much? - 983. Congratulations! I'm moved. - Me too. I have no words, I have no voice. I have tears in my eyes Well that's great. Oh la. What a story. What a story as you say. And when Pierre comes home from work, they can finally tell Deborah's parents the wonderful news. We have the results. And? And I'm pregnant! Well that's great! In any case you are radiant!
A little girl! Are you already thinking about that? - Well yes. It will be a girl! Very nice news, we are very happy! And as soon as you have a picture of. Of her. - Of the baby! We love you! - See you soon. Kisses. Deborah, born without a uterus, can enjoy the incredible idea that she is carrying a child. I can say I'm a pregnant woman!
I get priority checkout! Months go by. Pierre and Déborah just have to prepare for the arrival of their miracle baby. It will be beautiful! And as Pierre had hoped, it is indeed a little girl who is on her way, Misha. The young couple set up a fairy tale room for her. The little hat, that's it, she'll be beautiful. It's a bit big. And after years of waiting And months of delay due to Covid 19 Everything suddenly speeds up
Misha doesn't want to keep her parents waiting any longer In the seven months of her pregnancy The contractions increased And professor Ayubi decides to perform a caesarean It was planned, but not so early on the pregnancy Are you comfortable? Yes. We're finally going to see her face. - Yes, the cheeky one. Are you scared? No, I'm not afraid, it's going to be fine, and poof she'll be here. And after 10 minutes of surgery. There! She's beautiful as anything. The baby weighs 1.8 kilograms and is perfectly healthy.
I'll go next door and give you some news. As her lungs are not fully operational, the midwife goes straight to the neonatology department so that the machine can assist her. And here is your first bracelet! Pierre can now see his little girl. Congratulations! - Thank you. Is everything okay? - She's perfect. She's just like her mother. Is my daughter okay? Misha.
She's got Debo's feet! She's got her little feet lined up like Debo. Misha is in great shape and Deborah will finally see her child. Hello my love baby. Do you recognize my voice, my love? All alone, you breathe all alone like a big girl, my angel. Daddy and mummy are proud of you. It is thanks to the professor that you are here.
Science is only worthwhile if it is shared by all. It should not remain a surgical feat. It should become an intervention within the reach of many patients who are in the same case. Thank you Professor. Thank you for everything. Deborah, Pierre and Micha have their whole lives ahead of them, thanks to this unexpected miracle.
