When Oleksii Sak, 35, and his wife Iryna Khalimonchuk, 34, arrived in Australia from Poland in 2022, they were seeking a peaceful life.
But the Ukrainian couple’s plan to start a family here has proved anything but stress-free.
During a routine prenatal ultrasound, doctors found a fast-growing tumour attached to their baby’s tailbone.
“It was very hard time for us,” Iryna said.
“We cried a lot, it was a big stress, and we were so upset.”
An image of the teratoma growing at the base of Jolie’s spine. Source: SBS / Sandra Fulloon
Their baby Jolie Sak was diagnosed with a sacrococcygeal teratoma, a rare condition that occurs once in every 27,000 pregnancies.
These sacrococcygeal teratomas are more common in female babies and the cause is unknown.
Although Jolie was only 20 weeks old, the tumour was growing rapidly, leading to a range of risks.
Jolie‘s large mass, although not cancerous, could ‘steal’ crucial blood supply.
“Even though the baby was getting her blood supply through the mum’s placenta, a rapidly enlarging tumour may take more than its share of the blood supply,” said Dr Amiria Lynch, director of paediatric surgery at Monash Children’s Hospital.
“And that can then affect the growth of vital organs.”
Dr Amiria Lynch leads the Monash Children’s Hospital paediatric surgery team. Source: SBS / Scott Cardwell
Treatment challenges
As Iryna’s pregnancy progressed, specialist teams carefully monitored Jolie’s growth.
It was a worrying time for her parents and for two grandmothers still living in Ukraine’s southern port city of Kherson, which is under constant threat of Russian strikes.
“The [Russian invasion] has destroyed so much, including hospitals and buildings where civilians live,” Oleksii said.
Oleksii Sak with his wife Iryna and baby Jolie. Source: SBS / Scott Cardwell
“Since 2022 so many lives have been lost, and the problem continues, nothing has changed,” he said.
“And we don’t know if [the conflict] will ever finish, we just don’t know.”
Iryna trained as a general surgeon in Kherson, and is grateful to be living in Australia at such an uncertain time.
“Australia has top medical facilities and the doctors and nurses are so professional,” she said.
“Every room here at the hospital has modern equipment, it is just amazing, amazing!”
Lynch said the complex nature of baby Jolie’s tumour required careful planning by a multidisciplinary team.
“Foetal intervention for tumours is an extremely highly skilled and complex area,” Lynch said.
“Most places in the world would refer this [condition] to a tertiary hospital. In Australia, there are only two or three hospitals able to provide that service, and Monash Health is one of those.”
Dr Amiria Lynch (left) with mum Iryna Khalimonchuk and dad Oleksii Sak holding baby Jolie. Source: SBS / Scott Cardwell
A safe delivery
As Iryna’s pregnancy advanced, specialists had some positive news.
“Jolie’s teratoma was of a subtype that’s called mainly cystic,” Lynch explained.
“That meant it was like a water balloon which was filled with fluid.
“So, it wasn’t stealing as much of her blood supply but it was growing so quickly that it was taking up more space.”
Jolie’s tumour had expanded to around one-third of her body size and was larger than her head.
“The head is meant to be the biggest part that needs to be delivered, but by full term either a caesarean or vaginal delivery would be risky,” Lynch said.
“The main concern is that the tumour might rupture during delivery. And that can be a critical emergency and lead to fatality from blood loss.”
Dr Amiria Lynch with a scan of Jolie’s tumour. Source: SBS / Sandra Fulloon
Finally, at 38 weeks, Iryna went into theatre for a caesarean delivery.
“Just prior to delivery, an ultrasound scan machine was used to help draw fluid from the biggest cysts,” said Lynch, who was part of the surgical team.
“We removed 600 millilitres of fluid from the biggest cyst just prior to making the incision for the caesarean section.
“And that meant the tumour was now smaller than the baby’s head and she was able to be safely delivered without any complication.”
Baby Jolie in hospital soon after delivery. Source: Supplied / Oleksii Sak.
‘We were just so happy’
Iryna was awake during the procedure and will never forget the first look at her newborn daughter.
“I was so worried but then I felt so happy because I see my baby girl,” she said.
“I am a little crying, of course. But it was an amazing feeling and we were just so happy,” she said.
Lynch shared her relief and joy.
“It’s actually really amazing, to be honest. Jolie was born with such a difficult problem and the circumstances around her delivery are so memorable that I’m pretty sure I’ll recall details for many years to come,” she said.
“And to see her today smiling and healthy and happy, gives me great joy to have been part of the team that helped [save] her.”
Parents Iryna and Oleksii hold newborn baby Jolie. Source: Supplied / Oleksii Sak and Iryna Khalimonchuk.
Positive progress
Three days later surgeons operated again to remove the mass from Jolie’s tailbone.
“Her progress so far has been everything we could hope it could be,” Lynch said.
“Her wounds healed up very nicely and her function so far is showing every sign of being normal and that’s something we will continue to monitor as she grows.”
Jolie’s parents couldn’t be more grateful.
“Dr Amiria Lynch is such an amazing person and an amazing doctor and she has become part of our family,” Oleksii said.
Dr Amiria Lynch (left) with baby Jolie and her parents Iryna Khalimonchuk and Oleksii Sak. Source: SBS / Scott Cardwell
To thank the paediatric surgeon who saved their daughter, the couple chose Amiria as Jolie’s middle name.
It is a gesture Lynch describes as deeply touching.
“That is a first for me and, as someone with quite an unusual name, it is much more recognisable. So, yes, it is an absolute honour,” Lynch said.
“As surgeons, we often deal with heartbreaking conditions and there are heartbreaking parts of our job.
“So, it is these success stories that help to remind us why we do this job and it is a privilege to help families navigate these kind of problems.”
Oleksii Sak (left) with his wife Iryna and baby Jolie. Source: SBS / Scott Cardwell
Jolie’s parents celebrated their daughter’s first birthday this month at the Monash Children’s Hospital.
“It’s the best present for this Christmas,” Oleksii said.
“She is moving well and can lift her legs to try to walk.
“Before our baby we were a couple, a wife and husband. Now we are also parents.
“We are so happy, and she is so beautiful.”
This story was produced in collaboration with SBS Ukrainian.
