From appendicitis scare to a birthday miracle: a baby born on the way to surgery
A 26-year-old woman from Blackburn, Megan Isherwood, was rushed to Blackburn Hospital with severe pain on the right side and vomiting blood, suspected appendicitis. Doctors ordered ultrasound and CT scans to check what was wrong. To their shock, the scans revealed a tiny head and foot — she was pregnant, despite a pregnancy test taken days earlier being negative. She was blue-lighted to Burnley hospital for midwifery care, and during the transfer she began to push. Moments later, a baby boy named Jaxson was born, weighing 4.6 pounds, at 33 weeks.
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A shocking discovery in the ER: pregnancy revealed after tests for appendicitis
Back at Blackburn Hospital, doctors treated her for suspected appendicitis based on the right‑side pain, a high heart rate and nausea. They planned ultrasound and CT scans to rule out pregnancy, and that’s when they found a head and a foot on the images — proving she was pregnant. She arrived at Blackburn Hospital around 5:30 p.m. and was taken to the intensive care unit before being moved to Burnley for midwifery care.
In transit, a birth unfolds: Jaxson arrives during the ambulance ride
During the transfer, Megan went into labor. The paramedics told her to push, and soon after, Jaxson was born in the back of the ambulance. He weighed 4.6 pounds and was 33 weeks gestation. Minutes after birth he turned blue and stopped breathing, but paramedics managed to revive him before arriving at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Sepsis, NICU, and a second life‑threatening moment
Isherwood and Jaxson both developed sepsis and were treated with antibiotics. Hours after arrival at the hospital, Megan was finally able to see her baby. She later recalled, “I was speechless — I couldn’t believe what had just happened. I had no bump, no symptoms at all; he just came out of nowhere. He is a miracle.” A couple of days later, Jaxson stopped breathing again, but doctors revived him once more. He was discharged on September 25 and has been home with his mother since.
A village, a brave baby, and a mother who never expected this
Isherwood says Jaxson is a miracle. The father is not in a relationship with her. The local community rallied to provide supplies for Jaxson, and the family now cherishes a life they could hardly have imagined. Jaxson is doing absolutely amazing as they settle into life at home.
