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A baby boy has become the first child in the UK to be born to a mother who received a womb from a dead donor.
Hugo Powell was delivered weighing 6lb 13oz (3.1kg) in December at Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital, part of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.
The transplant marks the first birth in the UK using a womb from a deceased donor, with only two previous cases ever reported in Europe.
Last year surgeons announced the UK’s first baby born from a womb transplant involving a living donor.
In the latest case, Hugo’s mother, Grace Bell, an IT programme manager, was born with Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser (MRKH), a rare condition resulting in an underdeveloped or missing womb.
His father, Steve Powell, works in finance, and the couple, who are both in their 30s, live in southern England.
Ms Bell, who was diagnosed with MRKH when she was 16, told the Press Association: “It’s simply a miracle. I never, ever thought that this would be possible.
“I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life.”
Describing Hugo’s birth by Caesarean section, she said: “I remember there was lots and lots of people in the room running around.
“I was holding Steve’s hand at the time…
“I remember trying to peek over the drapes, and Hugo finally got put in my arms, and this being the moment that everyone has been working so hard to achieve.
“Since I was 16, I never thought this was going to be possible. So it really is a miracle.
“It just felt quite unreal at the time because this has been a long journey for us both.
“I remember waking up in the morning and seeing his little face, with his little dummy in, and it felt like I needed to wake up from a dream.
“It was just incredible.”
Mr Powell said: “When he came over the curtain, it was just sort of overwhelming emotions. I felt like I wanted to cry but couldn’t.
“From where we started – first meeting – to where we are today, with Hugo, is nothing short of a miracle after everything we’ve been through.”
Ms Bell said she thinks of her womb donor every day and the generosity of the donor’s family.
“There are no words to say thank you enough to my donor and her family,” she said.
“Their kindness and selflessness to a complete stranger is the reason I have been able to fulfil my lifelong dream of being a mum.
“I hope they know that my child will always know of their incredible gift, and the miracle that brought him into this world.
“I think of my donor and her family every day and pray they find some peace in knowing their daughter gave me the biggest gift, the gift of life.
“A part of her will live on forever.”
Breaking down in tears, Ms Bell said the couple were “in disbelief” when they discovered she was pregnant, adding: “I felt the luckiest girl in the world.”
She added: “This isn’t a life-saving donation but it is a life-giving one.
“From the moment of my diagnosis, every birthday when I blew out my candles, I would wish for this – to be able to experience pregnancy.
“I want the donor’s family to know how much of a gift they have given to me.
“They have fulfilled all of my dreams, everything has come true.”
Hugo Powell was delivered weighing 6lb 13oz (3.1kg) in December at Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital, part of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.
The transplant marks the first birth in the UK using a womb from a deceased donor, with only two previous cases ever reported in Europe.
Last year surgeons announced the UK’s first baby born from a womb transplant involving a living donor.
In the latest case, Hugo’s mother, Grace Bell, an IT programme manager, was born with Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser (MRKH), a rare condition resulting in an underdeveloped or missing womb.
His father, Steve Powell, works in finance, and the couple, who are both in their 30s, live in southern England.
Ms Bell, who was diagnosed with MRKH when she was 16, told the Press Association: “It’s simply a miracle. I never, ever thought that this would be possible.
“I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life.”
Describing Hugo’s birth by Caesarean section, she said: “I remember there was lots and lots of people in the room running around.
“I was holding Steve’s hand at the time…
“I remember trying to peek over the drapes, and Hugo finally got put in my arms, and this being the moment that everyone has been working so hard to achieve.
“Since I was 16, I never thought this was going to be possible. So it really is a miracle.
“It just felt quite unreal at the time because this has been a long journey for us both.
“I remember waking up in the morning and seeing his little face, with his little dummy in, and it felt like I needed to wake up from a dream.
“It was just incredible.”
Mr Powell said: “When he came over the curtain, it was just sort of overwhelming emotions. I felt like I wanted to cry but couldn’t.
“From where we started – first meeting – to where we are today, with Hugo, is nothing short of a miracle after everything we’ve been through.”
Ms Bell said she thinks of her womb donor every day and the generosity of the donor’s family.
“There are no words to say thank you enough to my donor and her family,” she said.
“Their kindness and selflessness to a complete stranger is the reason I have been able to fulfil my lifelong dream of being a mum.
“I hope they know that my child will always know of their incredible gift, and the miracle that brought him into this world.
“I think of my donor and her family every day and pray they find some peace in knowing their daughter gave me the biggest gift, the gift of life.
“A part of her will live on forever.”
Breaking down in tears, Ms Bell said the couple were “in disbelief” when they discovered she was pregnant, adding: “I felt the luckiest girl in the world.”
She added: “This isn’t a life-saving donation but it is a life-giving one.
“From the moment of my diagnosis, every birthday when I blew out my candles, I would wish for this – to be able to experience pregnancy.
“I want the donor’s family to know how much of a gift they have given to me.
“They have fulfilled all of my dreams, everything has come true.”
