A premature baby born 18 weeks early in Texas has been discharged from hospital in time to spend her first Christmas with her family.
Baby Jimena “JC” Macias was born at 22 weeks on 29 April this year. She weighed 11 inches long and weighed just 1lb 9oz.
Initially, doctors were not optimistic about her chances. “They weren’t going to be able to resuscitate her or be able to do anything for her if she was born there, at that time, that early”, recalled her mother, Juana.
But the intensive care unit at Memorial Hermann Hospital provided JC with excellent treatment, putting her on a ventilator and feeding her through an IV drip to help her through her initial days.
While she continues to undergo ongoing physical therapy, doctors say that JC is on track for all of her milestones.
Dr Rebecca Ballard, a neonatologist at the Memorial Hermann Hospital, said: “While I wish this story would happen with every baby born this early, it’s not possible. Not to think her story represents every baby, but it makes it so much more miraculous that it happened.”
This Christmas, baby Jimena will celebrate Christmas with her overjoyed parents.
SPUC comment
A SPUC spokesperson said: “The story of JC’s remarkable progress is the sort of heart-warming Christmas story we love to hear.
“It is wonderful what the medical profession can achieve today in the area of neonatal care, preventing tragedies and sparing parents the heartbreak of losing a child.
“SPUC wishes them a very merry Christmas.”
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