Posted on 02/19/2007 5:41:25 PM PST by dpa5923
Her minuscule feet poking pathetically through a doctor's fingers, few believed that she could possibly live.
Born only 21 weeks and six days after conception, Amillia Taylor weighed just under 10oz and was only 91/2 inches long.
Medical staff, however, were given a clue to her fighting spirit when the tiny scrap tried to cry and breathe on her own.
And now, four months later and weighing 4lb, she has been allowed home the world's most premature baby to have survived.
Her parents Sonja and Eddie, from Homestead, Florida, were visiting friends in Miami when Mrs Taylor went into labour at just over 19 weeks pregnant, having conceived by IVF.
Doctors attempted to delay the birth but eventually were forced to carry out an emergency caesarean.
Dr Guillermo Lievano, who delivered Amillia, said he was not expecting her to survive.
"I was prepared for the worst and prepared to break the bad news to the mother."
Amillia responded to treatment, however. During two months in an incubator, she even had plastic surgery after her left ear was partially torn off during the delivery.
"I'm still in amazement," said Mrs Taylor, 37, a teacher. "I wanted her to have a chance and I knew in my heart that she was going to make it.
"It was hard to imagine she would get this far. But now she is beginning to look like a real baby. Even though she's only 4lb now, she's plump to me."
William Smalling, neo-natologist at Baptist Children's Hospital in Miami, said: "She's truly a miracle baby. We didn't even know what a normal blood pressure is for a baby this small."
Amillia's incredible story will reignite the debate over Britain's abortion laws, which campaigners say must be updated in the light of recent medical advances.
Babies can still be aborted for non-medical reasons at up to 24 weeks. Recent evidence shows that, of those born at 25 weeks, half of them manage to live.
My 31-week premature daughter born in 1972 (before today's incredible medical advances) is now 34 years old and the mother of my 4-year old grandson. This story is a miracle and truly wonderful for the parents.
That's unbelieveable. Made my day, really. I never knew such a young baby could survive....22 weeks..amazing.
Yeah, that should open some of those Pro-"Choice" eyes. They will be gaping and stammering, "How could this be possible!?" And thus prove the point we ALL KNEW BEFORE - abortion = murder; it's about damn time, too. (not that I have to reiterate that)
Hmmm...
Didn't find it when I searched, probrably because of the different titles.
Completely agree.
To a liberal we're all just meat puppets, no matter what age. As soon as any of us lose our utility, they want to give us the needle.
After all, the democrat party and its mass media winged monkeys say "Amelia" is nothing more than a collection of non-viable tissues. /sarc
They abort babies bigger than he was EVERY DAY.
...left ear was partially torn off during the delivery...
&&
???
I think Kyler's mom was about 24 weeks pregnant when he came along.
I imagine since the child was so young, the cartilage was not properly formed, hence the torn ear. (just a guess)
I love how the child had plastic surgery. My daughter is pre-med (proud daddy here) and I've talked to her about the nobility of medicine. This is a great example of that nobility.
The little cutie has more hair than me!
At this age, the lungs aren't fully developed. It would be interesting to hear more medical details.
I'm not sure which thing made me tear up when I read this. How beautiful this story of life is? How awesome our technological advancements are, and the good that can come about via their application? Or perhaps my own personal guilt for supporting, just a few years ago, with a clear conscience and without reservation, the "right" of a mother to tear such an unborn child - undeniably a sentient human individual - apart if for nothing but selfish "convenience". It was a stance devoid of many things, lower among those rationality.
She's the size of a pen. And she's absolutely amazing.
bump for later reading
I am glad you are here now..that is what matters...
If you want to read another story of a little miracle...go here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/962162/posts
You can look at the beginning picture..and then near the end there are many pictures too..
This thread is the story of our own FR preemie...Logan ~aka~ Texas Termite.
He was 1pound 8oz and almost died several times while we all prayed and cried...
He is now 3.5 and wonderful!
There's a wonderful steroid shot they give mom the minute they know she may deliver so early. It really speeds up the development of the lungs. Even a few hours helps.
I'm the proud mom of a 27 weeker -- born 2lbs, 3 ozs. We accepted a still very new and semi-experimental medication for our son that is now saving preemies every day.
BTW, he's now a very precocious 8 year old who wants to be president, after he retires from archaeology, after he retires as a chemist, LOL.
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