From the hospital room where Deborah, 34 at the time, waits for her mother's uterus to be transplanted, until the birth of her baby Misha, Friday February 12 in Suresnes (Hauts-de-Seine ), journalist Ibar Aibar filmed the incredible journey of this woman who has just become a mother.
Almost three years of images documenting, for the first time, this miracle of medicine.
The exclusive report, intimate without being intrusive, will be broadcast in “Zone interdite”, on M6, this Sunday February 21 at 9:05 pm.
"I love you" whispered before going down to the operating room, tears of emotion wiped away with the back of the hand, fingers twisting in worry.
Everything is there and, yet, you never feel like a voyeur.
Even when Deborah comes out of the bathroom at 5 am with a pregnancy test in her hand.
“I work alone,” explains the journalist, who uses a (very well) tinkered cell phone to be as discreet as possible.
I was only supported when it took several cameras, especially during operations since we could not enter and leave the block.
"
Strong images
The medical team responsible for the uterus transplant on Deborah. / Nova production / Zone interdite / M6 / Ibar Aibar
Result?
Strong images, closer to what Deborah, Pierre, her husband, Brigitte and Jean-Luc, her parents, experienced.
From the start of filming, Ibar Aibar has been clear: “I come to document your story, but it is first and foremost your journey for the baby.
It is out of the question to intervene on anything.
“Barely half of the images have been used.
If that doesn't work, the reporter doesn't insist.
“For an ultrasound, we turned off all the lights.
I didn't ask for a light, I didn't light a torch.
The moment will remain private.
He agreed with the couple that he would not give their last name and that they would try to keep it a secret as long as possible.
The journalist does not film in public places, so as not to attract attention.
“We wanted them to be able to live this moment without being bothered by bad reactions, people who would say that it is against nature for example.
At the time of Misha's birth, Ibar Aibar is in the front line.
The journalist filmed using a cell phone to be as discreet as possible./Nova production / Zone interdite / M6 / Ibar Aibar
After an initial alert on February 2, he moved to the hotel next to the hospital.
“The caesarean was scheduled for around March 7, but Deborah began to have contractions.
Professor Ayoubi said he was going to switch from autopilot to the turbulence zone.
He had visibility at 2 o'clock, not beyond.
Ten days go by, during which the journalist is patient with Pierre, the future dad.
“We drink coffees, we have lunch together.
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And on the morning of February 12, Professor Ayoubi called: “We are going to start the cesarean.
»In the hospital room, Ibar finds Deborah and Pierre,« clean shaven ».
The cesarean is going well, the baby comes out in about ten minutes.
But don't give the expected cry.
“We don't feel any tension.
The whole team is very calm, very professional.
The midwife immediately takes Misha to neonatal care.
This is where Pierre meets his daughter, laughs to find that "she has her mother's feet", says "nice things" to her.
Not everyone can attend such moments, the journalist agrees.
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Back with Deborah, he films the little girl who arrives in her incubator on wheels.
The midwife places the newborn baby on her mother, who introduces her daughter to Professor Ayoubi: “Look at Misha, it is thanks to the teacher that you are here.
»When he talks about this« nice moment »and the way in which he will close the report, Ibar Aibar smiles:« I like to cry while watching stuff, but afterwards everyone does as they want.
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