PHOENIX - There is alarming new information about a serious birth defect doctors are seeing more and more in newborn babies.
It's called gastroschisis and no one knows what causes it. It's when the baby's intestines grow on the outside of its body and it's not as uncommon as you would think.
The condition occurs in one of 2,000 babies.
Doctors at St. Joe's in Phoenix told 12 News that they see at least one case every six weeks.
"She was born four pounds, five ounces," said Marisa Moline, mother of 2-month-old Ella.
Little Ella has already endured more than most will encounter in their entire life.
"She's been through a lot," she said.
Doctors detected a birth defect when Marisa was 17 weeks pregnant.
PHOTOS: Warning: Some viewers may find some of the photos graphic.
"I found out that she was gastroschisis," she said.
It's a condition Ella's mom and dad had never heard about before.
"There's no fixing it before delivery," Moline said. "She was born with both intestines, her gallbladder and her stomach outside."
The pictures are difficult to look at, but actually living through it is unimaginable.
"It just doesn't develop correctly and so there's a hole right next to the umbilical cord," she said.
When Marisa gave birth, doctors had to act fast.
"As soon as these babies are born we place them in a plastic bag, so that there's less evaporative losses and then we call the surgeon," said Dr. Vinit Manuel, neonatologist at St. Joe's. Mauel said the surgery is actually easy.
"We approximate the two ends of the skin, push the gut in and put the umbilical cord on top," he said. "Low and behold, it heals."
Ella handled the surgery extremely well.
"We thank her for coming to us and allowing us to take care of her," Manuel said.
It's been an emotional journey for Ella's parents.
"I'd do anything for her," said Benjamin Moline, Ella's father. "I was working my butt off the whole time so I was trying to keep distracted. She means the world to me."
"I'm just thankful, because I don't think she would have survived without the doctors," her mom said.
Ella's parents see a lot in her future.
"It's going to be really cool seeing her grow up," her dad said. "I just think that she's going to do amazing things."
"Because she's definitely a fighter," her mom said. "She's definitely our miracle child."
Manuel said they still don't know what causes the condition, but they do know it occurs in young moms. Ella's mom told 12 News the medical staff at St. Joe's released her to go home on Friday, so that will be her first night sleeping at home.
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