A sonogram of a dying boy in the womb holding his sister's hand has gone viral.
A sonogram of a twin brother-sister in the womb has made national headlines because it shows the hand of the boy, who's dying, reaching out and holding the hand of the girl – a sort of embrace of comfort, parents Brittani and Ian McIntire said.
The sonogram of Mason and Madilyn was taken by a doctor at the Hutchinson Clinic, located outside Wichita, Kansas. Mason, doctors learned, about 16 weeks into McIntire's pregnancy, had a hole in his heart and an undeveloped brain, and was likely going to die.
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Brittani, Ian, Kinsley and Brailey McIntire
The sonogram cheered the couple.
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"It was an incredible blessing," the mother said, to TODAY.com. "That was the first happy thing we've seen in a while."
The only chance for Mason to survive is if doctors perform heart surgery. But medical officials won't do the procedure because they say it would severely impact his brain.
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"It's been really hard to wake up every day not knowing if he's still alive, but we're just taking it day by day and week by week," the mother said, who is now 28 weeks into her pregnancy. "Every time we hear his heartbeat we both let out a huge sigh of relief."
She said their other two children, ages 4 and 6, pray for Mason every night.
"I know I'm the one carrying him," she said. "But it's so tough to not physically be able to hold him and be there for him. It's comforting to know that Madilyn is with him, so that if he does pass, he won't be alone."
