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Family welcomes miracle baby thanks to Temple doctor after hysterectomy 10-years ago

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Posted at 4:33 PM, Feb 19, 2021
and last updated 2021-02-19 19:39:07-05

TEMPLE, TX — At 12-years-old, Avery Colley had a hysterectomy where the entire left side of her reproductive system was removed.

"I had a bicornuate uterus and it was shaped like a heart and my left side was not draining when I had my time of the month," Colley said.

This means getting pregnant would be a problem for the future, but having a baby wasn't on the minds of Avery's parents 10 years ago.

"I tell you, me, I was more concerned about Mandy right now. Avery has a health problem right now," Jason Wells, Avery's dad said.

Before going into surgery their doctor, Dr. Wright Bates, reassured them that he was going to do everything he could to give Avery a future chance at becoming a mom.

With only half of a woman's reproductive organs, getting and staying pregnant could be difficult.

Fast forward a decade, Colley had a miscarriage last January.

Colley goes to the doctor where they give her two shots of Chemo that actually helps with fertility.

A few months later, she was pregnant again.

While praying with each passing week, and battling COVID-19 at 34 weeks, baby Cohen was finally born February of 2021.

After giving birth to a healthy 7 pound 8 ounce boy, Colley and Wells knew they had to contact Dr. Bates.

Dr. Bates was practicing in Alabama 10-years-ago where Colley and Wells live.

It became a mission to surprise and thank him for their miracle baby after they realized he was no longer there.

"The fact that they sought me out over the miles is truly an honor," Dr. Bates said.

Dr. Bates is now the Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Baylor Scott & White in Temple.

A quick phone call to the hospital's communications office was all it took for a surprise zoom call to be set.

"I wanted to thank you, we all did because with your expertise and God's guiding hand, we have the most perfect baby," Wells said as they showed Cohen to Dr. Bates over video call.

Dr. Bates was happy to see one more family complete thanks to the work he's done for 20 years. But he says moments like this are thanks to teamwork.

"I'm talking to you, but it really is a team effort of outstanding nurses and radiologists and assistants in the OR," Dr. Bates said.

It's was all happy tears from the Wells and Colley family as they got to hold their new baby boy.

While it may have been a battle to get him here, Colley says she would do it all over again.

"Ya know they didn't think it was going to happen or didn't think it was possible really," Colley said "Now I look at him all the time and I want to cry because he really shouldn't be here, he's a miracle for sure."