Surgeon's tears of joy as years of work pays off

TEARS streamed down the face of Professor Richard Smith when he finally held the baby born after 25 years' research into womb transplants.

- By Hanna Geissler

Recalling the moment when the infant was safely delivered, he said: “I feel great joy, unbelievable - 25 years down the line from starting this research, we finally have a baby, little Amy Isabel.

“Astonishing, really astonishing. There's been a lot of tears shed by all of us in this process, really quite emotional, for sure. It is really something.”

Prof Smith, who attended the birth, said the “scariest thing for me on the day of the delivery was the prospect of dropping the baby as she was handed to me”. He said:

“I walked out with tears streaming down my face. It's a quarter of a century - a good proportion of my career.”

Telling of his nerves ahead of the planned Caesarean on February 27, he said: “I woke at 4am every morning for the last three months, worrying.