Baby Born to Brain-dead Mother in Hungary

A healthy, albeit premature, baby was born to a woman three months after a stroke left her brain dead.

According to officials from Debrecen University's medical center where the woman was treated, the 32-year-old woman experienced a stroke during her 15th week of pregnancy, her circulation and vital functions ceased two days later.

The baby was still "alive and kicking," said Bela Fulesdi, president of the medical center, the Telegraph reported. The decision was then left to the woman's partner and parents as to whether or not they would keep life support running in an effort to save the baby's life.

The machines were left on and for three months the mother was administered special nutrient-rich fluids. The infant was born via cesarean section at 27 weeks, weighing 3 pounds, 1.8 ounces.

"The baby is now home and growing," Fulesdi added, noting the child is expected to live a normal life.

The child's name and sex have remained confidential per the family's request, and doctors waited several months after the birth before alerting the public.

The woman's life support systems were switched off and her kidneys, pancreas and heart were donated two days after the delivery, according to The Washington Post.

The Telegraph cited Debrecen health officials as saying they were only aware of two other instances in which babies were born to women who required life-support as early on in their pregnancy.