Baby Saisi’s miraculous survival defies medical explanation, expert says

Medical experts have called Baby Saisi Wasike’s story a miracle.

According to research, chances of surviving are fair for a young person who is healthy and who began the ordeal well-nourished and well-dehydrated and if rescued within four days.

The time period varies under different conditions. Experts said people who are injured and lose blood have a slim chance of surviving for more than 24 hours.

The length of time a person can survive on water alone depends on various factors including the amount of extra fat a person has stored in his or her body, the temperature and the person’s metabolism.

Peter Cherutich, a global-health expert, said as time goes on, a person’s organs ‘hibernate’ one by one until the body can no longer properly function.

“The body goes into ‘hibernation’ and the heart rate slows down considerably to save energy. Non-essential body function like muscle contraction undergoes a near shut down and all energy goes to sustain basic functions like breathing,” he said. He added that the body begins to breakdown muscle for energy, in a process called catabolism. Excess fat is also used but he notes that babies do not have much of it.

For Baby Saisi, who was rescued yesterday after four days under debris, Mr Cherutich terms it as a miracle. The baby had been buried for 80 hours and was found in a basin wrapped in a blanket. On the time a baby can survive under such situations, Cherutich said, its dependent on how efficient their metabolic system is.

“Most babies do not survive under such circumstances but miracles happen,” he said.

The Kenya Red Cross Society said there was no standard time frame that a person can survive under debris.