Mum Tells Horror After Son Was Found to Have a ‘Hidden Vagina’

A mother was left heartbroken when she was told that her son has a ‘hidden vagina’ due to a birth defect, which leaves him in constant pain.

Leanne Owen, 40, told of her heartache when she learned that her eight-year-old son Harry was born with three holes in his heart, a twisted spinal cord and kidney problems. He also had no anus and no urethra – the hole in the tip of the penis through which men expel urine.

As Harry grew, Ms Owen noticed his penis wasn’t growing and his genitals looked abnormal. When she asked doctors, she was told a horrific truth about her son’s condition.

In May last year, doctors discovered Harry had bifid scrotum with features associated with female genitalia – which means he has a cleft in his scrotum which causes two folds of skin which look like a female’s labia — as well as urethral duplication. Doctors revealed Harry actually had VACTERL association — which stands for ‘vertebral, anal, cardio, tracheo-esophageal, renal, limb’ – the name given to the occurence of multiple birth defects which are thought to be related.

Harry’s defects were picked up at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, where he was born, but he was quickly moved to Manchester Children’s Hospital. He underwent more than 12 operations including being fitted with a stoma and a colostomy bag.

Now, Ms Owen feels angry the defects weren’t diagnosed at birth. She says most of Harry’s defects were not seen in ultrasound scans at Blackpool Victoria Hospital before he was born. This means Harry is now left in agony every day – which Ms Owen feels could have been prevented. “I feel frustrated because if this had been picked up when Harry was a baby, he wouldn’t have to be in the pain that he is now,” she said.

A spokesman for Manchester Children’s Hospital said: ‘We are sorry to hear that Harry’s family have concerns about his care. We are contacting the family to reassure them that we will look into this further.

Meanwhile, a Blackpool Victoria Hospital spokesman said they would not comment on individual cases due to patient confidentiality but have investigated the family’s concerns and responded to them directly.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk