Baby boy with stomach in his chest, hole in heart kept alive with Viagra

London, Aug 18 (ANI): A baby boy born with multiple complex conditions is being kept alive on Viagra.

Three-and-a-half weeks old Owen Bloomfield, born with his stomach in the chest, a hole in his heart and a rare lung disorder, is virtually living on the impotence drug.

Doctors had given up all hopes and even considered ending the child's life support. But after battling all the odds for three weeks Owen's health has improved remarkably.

The baby underwent major surgery to put his organs in the right places and can breathe on his own now. He is taking Viagra regularly and may have to continue on it for the rest of his life, if his lung problem shows no progress.

The Scotsman quoted Owen's father, Ronnie Bloomfield, as saying: "I thought it was an old man's drug, but Owen gets it every four hours. He has pulmonary hypertension and he's given it to open up the blood vessels in his lungs and lower his blood pressure."

Owen's mother Jennifer Strachan, said: "The doctors said they had only known of one or two babies to survive with all three complications and if he didn't start to pick up in a week, we'd have to think about turning his medication off and letting him go peacefully.

"That was on the Tuesday and on the Wednesday he started to pick up."

"The three hours of his operation were the worst three of my life....But the doctors have said now there is no reason why he won't survive," she added. (ANI)