5-month-old boy survived thanks to ... Viagra

Although only 50% chance of survival after birth, a Scottish 5-month-old boy is still resisting the 'death' with the help of a very special medicine - Viagra.

Reuben Paxton baby born on 1/3 with stomach, intestines and part of the liver inside the chest, fully occupied the development of tiny lungs.

Paxton's heart was also pushed to the right and there was a gap. So the boy encountered problems with blood circulating to the lungs.

Reuben underwent a 7-hour life-saving operation to bring the internal organs back into place when he was 4 days old. The boy then spent 3 months in the hospital, trying to hold on to life.

Now Reuben has been allowed to go home with his parents in Roxburghshire, Scotland and is winning the battle with 'death' by sildenafil - the active ingredient that gives the reputation ' a precursor ' to impotence drugs Viagra.

Reuben's mother said: 'My son has pulmonary hypertension and Viagra helps to expand blood vessels that run to the lungs, so that blood can move better. Reuben currently has to take medicine 4 times / day. If you do not use Viagra, your lungs cannot function normally and you will not get enough oxygen to your body. '

Reuben's mother further revealed that when she was pregnant at the 20th week, she was told a "lightning strike" by doctors: her abdomen had a congenital diaphragmatic hernia , meaning there was a hole on the abdominal wall. Statistics show that the disease only attacks about 2,500 children and half of infected babies die before they are born.

When leaving the hospital, Reuben used to have 8 different drugs. However, now I only have to take Viagra 4 times / day, 2 stomach reflux pills and 1 iron supplement to support oxygen transport throughout my body.

Reuben is still using a feeding tube during the night to ensure weight gain. He also had regular checkups at the hospital to monitor the development process and heart defects.