My wife Mandy and I were informed that our baby had an Exomphalos at 13 weeks, We were unprepared for this news as we had no prior knowledge of this condition. We were devastated. we had been trying to fall pregnant for 5 years and had undertaken the initial steps of the IVF program but fell pregnant naturally. Once we were diagnosed with the condition our first question was "who can we talk to who has been here". Doctors gave us medical information and we began a series of scans and tests. Mandy discovered this site and it has been a Godsend. we would not have coped as well without it.

Mandy travelled well throughout her pregnancy, and each scan or test only made us feel more positive. Our baby had an Exomphalos that contained only liver, it continued to grow as did our baby. At 21 weeks we had a heart scan and everything seemed to be fine. Another heart scan at 31 weeks had a good result. Everything seemed to be in order and we were only dealing with the Exomphalos.

At 41 weeks Mandy was induced to give birth naturally, but 5 hours into the inducement our baby's heart rate dropped 3 times in 5 minutes, the professor decided to do an emergency c-section. We were both crying as she underwent the procedure and the sweetest sound we both have ever heard was when our baby gave a cry upon delivery.

Our baby was taken to a support station and given a quick clean and the Exomphalos was wrapped in surgical film. Our son Joshua had arrived.

Whilst Mandy was being sown up I went with Joshua to the NIC unit where he was weighed ( 3.3 kgs or 7lbs 3 ) and prepared to be transported to the Sydney Children's Hospital at Westmead, a 10 minute journey.

Joshua was received at the Grace Neonatal Intensive care unit and both he and I were looked after. The NIC unit was a bit overwhelming even though we had a tour and met some staff before hand, it was a bit unnerving listening to the beeps and alarms of the monitors. I must have stayed there for hours just watching the monitor. By this time Mandy was recovering in hospital, and had not yet seen our son. The staff took a great picture of him and I took it to Mandy. We both stared at the picture for a long time, tears flowing. We couldn't believe that our son was here.

Joshua was scheduled to have his operation the next day, he would be 22 hours old. Mandy was feeling well enough to travel to the kids hospital by wheelchair the next day, she had her first sight and cuddle of our son. We stayed with him until he was transferred to a humidicrib and taken to surgery. The next 2 hours were the longest of our lives. When the pager I was given went off I raced back to the children's hospital to be given the news by Dr Harvey that the surgery went well and Joshua's Exomphalos contained only the liver and they had been able to complete a full closure.