Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, December 31, 1993 TAG: 9312310073
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CHICAGO LENGTH: Medium
"I trusted God on the whole matter," said the baby's father, Mike Bricci. "God does miracles."
The 4-pound, 12-ounce boy was born to Tabita Bricci late Wednesday at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in a vaginal delivery.
The baby was named Callian. Bricci said the name means "you did something good for me."
"This is one of those cases when you're very happy that you're proven wrong, and we are very, very happy that the child was born alive and apparently physically healthy," said Patrick Murphy, the Cook County public guardian who represented the fetus.
But Murphy also said that doctors had told him it might take at least six months to determine if the baby has normal brain function.
The Briccis fought to the U.S. Supreme Court against county officials who tried to force a C-section. The high court refused to consider the case immediately, but could take it up later.
Doctors had warned Tabita Bricci, 22, that because of a problem with her placenta, her fetus was not getting enough oxygen and probably would be brain-damaged or born dead without a C-section. But the Pentecostal woman said she believed God would deliver a healthy baby.
The infant is "apparently perfectly healthy," Northwestern spokesman Daniel Parker said.
Dr. Marilynn Frederiksen, an obstetrician, said the baby has no serious problems. No tests can predict any brain damage yet, but doctors have no reason to suspect damage, she said.
She disagreed with St. Joseph doctors that a C-section was needed, though she said she and the parents had agreed to one if necessary during labor. The couple also had agreed to have labor induced this week, if necessary.
Mike Bricci said nothing in his religion prohibits surgery. Rather, he and his wife believe it is wrong to end a pregnancy before term, by C-section or any other way.
by CNB