Baby born with mermaid tail lives long enough for his parents to be able to hold him in their arms

A man named Stefan Shaw and his now ex-girlfriend Chelby were about to become parents for the first time. As any other couple, they couldn’t wait for the moment when they would take their child in their arms. Unfortunately, when Chelby was in the 20th week of pregnancy, the scans showed something devastating.

The fluid from the amniotic sag was gone and the baby had no kidneys. Stefan and Chelby were told that they wouldn’t be able to see their child enter this world alive and that broke their hearts.

However, despite the odds, their miracle baby Joseph was born seven weeks prematurely via a C-section.

Source: Stefan Shaw / BPM Media

Joseph didn’t only lack kidneys, but bowels and genitals as well. Despite all that, he was breathing. His legs were fused together and he resembled a mermaid.

“When I got to the hospital they said that from the waist down Joseph was like a fish,” Stefan said.

“I had never seen a baby like my son. He was like a mermaid, he was a unique, beautiful baby boy.”

Source: Facebook/Stefan Andrew Shaw

Knowing Joseph wouldn’t make it, Stefan and Chelby wanted to give their bundle of joy “the best send-off possible,” so they organized for him to be christened at the Royal Derby Hospital.

During the ceremony, doctors had to pump air into Joseph to keep him alive.

Stefan, who is now homeless, explained how his son was in his arms when doctors took the tube off and he died peacefully.

“It was very heartbreaking and extremely hard to let go of something that meant the world to you,” the heartbroken father told Derbyshire Live.

Source: Facebook/Stefan Andrew Shaw

Rest in peace, Joseph.

Please SHARE this story with your family and friends on Facebook.

Bored Daddy

Monica Pop
Monica Pop
Monica Pop is a senior writer for Bored Daddy magazine covering the latest trending and popular articles across the United States and around the world.

More from author

Related posts

Latest posts

My wife became distant – then suddenly, she was gone, with only an envelope left in her place

Sometimes, you believe that you know someone better than you know yourself, but that suddenly changes and that person starts feeling like a stranger...

Rude man insults a woman at the airport, not knowing he’ll soon regret it

When Dr. Carter saw a short line at the airport, she felt relieved because she was in a desperate need to catch a flight...

Bill to make tips tax-free

On July 4, 2025, President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB) into law. Under OBBB, tax reductions worth trillions that were...

80s movie bombshell unrecognizable after quitting fame and escaping stalker nightmare! Can you guess who?

Fans of The Fall Guy might remember Heather Thomas as the stunning stunt double-turned-bounty hunter who shared the screen with Lee Majors in the...

Man’s final wish to see his dog before execution leads to an unforgettable moment that changed everything

A touching story from a rural town found its way to the hearts of many. It wasn't a story of crime and punishment, as...

My bride slipped me a note asking me to ‘say no at the altar’ — it sounded crazy, but I trusted her plan

When I met Emily, I somehow felt that she was the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. From the...