MIDLANDS VOICE
Surgeon makes history with operation on unborn baby
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Sienna Smith made history after surviving an operation that was carried out while she was still in her mother's womb. The first-of-its-kind procedure that took place in a Leicester hospital was crucial because doctors feared she would not be able to breathe when she was born. Ear, nose and throat surgeon Javed Uddin, pictured, was at the forefront of the life-saving operation, which involved inserting a tube into the unborn baby's throat. Uddin had only previously observed the procedure, during his medical training. The call for the operation came after doctors spotted swelling on Sienna's neck at a 20-week scan. They were unsure of what was causing the lump but knew that it was pressing on her windpipe, which could prevent Sienna breathing when she was born. Parents, Sarah-Jane Harrup and Deryck Smith, of Hamilton, Leicester, were warned their baby might not survive. Mr Uddin said: "If she was born naturally, there was a high chance she
would not be able to breathe and we would not be able to help her. We knew something in her neck was pressing on her windpipe and we needed to plan her delivery very carefully." Mr Uddin and colleagues decided Sienna's best chance was to have an Exit – ex utero intrapartum – procedure, an operation to clear the blockage while she
Things left behind in hotels: real gold effigies of Indian gods, ÂŁ2000 groom's oufit and alloy wheels.
Leicester hotels have released a list of items which were left in their lost property boxes in 2013 and the results are extremely surprising. A set of 24-carat gold effigies of Indian gods, a suitcase full of belly dancing costumes, a 6ft rubber plant and a ÂŁ2000 groom's outfit are among the bizarre things found in Leicester hotel rooms over the past year. The golden statues of Ganesha, Shiva, Hanuman, Durga and Lakshmi were found at the Travelodge in Leicester city centre, as well as a large suitcase
filled with comic books. The most common items left behind, though, were not surprising, with phone chargers topping the list, followed by phones and then books. Teddy bears are also com-
monly left behind. Travelodge Leicester spokeswoman Shakila Ahmed said: "Each year, our lost and found inventory report provides plenty
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of revelations." In another branch of Travelodge, a tarantula was among the items found. Nationally, the company found nearly 10,000 tablets and smartphones in its hotels in the past 12 months. "This is a significant increase from previous years," said Shakila. “What is becoming evident after speaking to our customers is that the pace of life has become so fast, and we are so eager to get from A to B, that valuable possessions are easily forgotten." All items left behind in Travelodge hotels which have not been claimed within three months are donated to charity shops, when appropriate.
www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 11th January 2014
was in the womb. Doctors came up with a plan to perform a caesarian section and then carry out the procedure before she was born. They wanted to leave Sienna for as long as possible, but not so long she might be born naturally so they decided to carry out the operation at 37 weeks. After performing a caesarian section, they lifted Sienna's head so a tube could be inserted into her throat. It was vital to keep the baby attached to the umbilical cord to maintain her oxygen supply. Doctors also needed to prevent the onset of contractions, so fluid was pumped into the space left in the womb by Sienna's head. Mr Uddin said: "I'm really pleased to have completed the first operation of its kind here. The best thing was seeing the baby in mum's arms after the operation." Sarah-Jane, 30, said: "We are so grateful to Mr Uddin. If it had been any other consultant we might have been told to terminate the pregnancy. We cannot thank everyone enough for our beautiful daughter.�
Water Company Worker shaves prizedmoustache for Charity
A water company worker has sacrificed one of his most prized possessions for the charity Water Aid. Jay “Jituâ€? Mistry, pictured, a Leicester-based programme manager at Severn Trent Water, is president of the Shree Prajapati Association (SPA) UK and was sponsored to shave off his moustache as his first fund-raising event for the charity Water Aid. He hopes it will help raise money towards his goal of providing clean drinking water for developing world countries. He said: "Having worked in the water industry for 35 years I know how important it is for people to have access to clean drinking water. I've supported Water Aid since it started and wanted to do my bit. "We're raising the money doing things such as dinner and dance evenings and religious activities and I was even sponsored to shave off the moustache I've had most of my life." His shave raised a total of ÂŁ1,000 and Jay expects to raise between ÂŁ18,000 and ÂŁ20,000. "We're thrilled to have made so much for such a good cause,'' he said.
Average house prices in Leicester increases by 11%
Average house prices in Leicester increased by 11 per cent in 2013 adding Leicester to one of five cities in the UK where house price have risen dramatically. Nationwide placed Leicester fourth in its table of cities and towns with the highest house price rises, behind only Manchester with 21% and Brighton and Birmingham, with double-digit growth. Recent figures released by the building society showed the average house price in Leicester rose by 11 per cent last year from ÂŁ152,052 to ÂŁ168,778. While the average UK house price rose by 7.1 per cent, to ÂŁ174,444. Nationwide have reportedly said that house price rises remain “subduedâ€? but also highlighted the risks of any more increases: “The risk is that if demand continues to run ahead of supply in the quarters ahead, affordability may become stretched.â€?
4 Muslim men amongst Police hunt for 9 men linked to serious crimes
Two Asians are amongst 9 men who are wanted by the Police team of Leicestershire detectives behind Operation Tiger – the force's ongoing campaign to track down people it believes are involved in crimes such as burglary, drug-dealing and handling stolen goods. Police originally issued photographs of 10 wanted men a month ago and urged anyone to help them – or for the men to hand themselves in. Since then, four of the suspects have been identified and detained by police. Now, the Police has added three more faces to the gallery and urged Mercury readers to help trace them, along with the remaining six suspects. Superintendent Martyn Ball, who is overseeing the operation, said: "So far, we have arrested four of the people whose photographs we released a few weeks ago, which is a good success rat.� The four Muslim men Police want to trace are: 1: Faheem Gangat, 28. He is wanted for recall to prison for alleged drug and alcohol offences. 3: Abdi Mahan Osman is wanted for recall to prison for alleged racially aggravated grievous bodily harm. 7: Hamza Fahid, also known as Hamse Fahie, 29, is wanted on warrant for alleged robbery and theft. 8: Mirzaman Ali, also known as Isa Din, is wanted on warrant for alleged possession and production of a class B drug with intent to supply.
100-year-old great-great grandmother celebrates with her family
Five generations joined together to celebrate the 100th birthday of greatgreat-grandmother Ladhiben Ravat. The100-year-old reached the milestone birthday on New Year's Day but celebrated with a party attended by 15 family members on Saturday. Ladhiben, who came to Leicester from Kenya in the 1970s, lived in Belgrave for most of her time in the city, only moving to Fosse Court care home when her health deteriorated
Ladhiben Ravat, centre, back, from left, Dinesh Ravat, Hansa Pankhania, Nita Ravat, Nimesh Pankhania, Priya Ravat, Jyoti Patel and David Ravat. Front, from left, Samji Ravat, Kaelan Pateland Narmarda Ravat
about a year ago. Great-granddaughter Priya Ravat, 25, of Belgrave, said: "She really enjoyed it. She's
been asking where her cake is since her birthday on January 1, so she was really happy to finally have the party.
"She's still going strong and knows everything that's going on around her. She had a card from the Queen, which arrived just before her birthday." Ladhiben lost her husband, Harji, when he was in his early 20s and never remarried. She has one son, five grand-children, numerous great-grandchildren and one great-greatgrandchild, with all the generations at the party. "It was nice for us to spend time with her," said Priya.