Sharjah: Baby Weighing 700Gm Finally Home After 70-Day Battle In Intensive Care

A premature baby born at just 26 weeks and weighing a mere 700g has triumphed extreme medical challenges after spending 10 weeks in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Zulekha Hospital, Sharjah.

Baby Ameera, whose name means 'Princess,' arrived far earlier than expected in April, last year. Her birth was filled with uncertainty, as she was tiny and fragile. Doctors had prepared her parents for a difficult journey ahead, but nothing could truly prepare them for the reality of seeing their newborn fighting for every breath.

Her father vividly remembers the moment when she was born.“When I first saw her, I couldn't believe how small she was. She fit in the palm of my hand. I was scared to even touch her. I didn't know if she would make it,” he said, holding back tears.

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The initial days were critical. Ameera's tiny lungs struggled to function, requiring immediate ventilator support. She was surrounded by tubes and wires, fighting against the complications of prematurity. Her parents could do nothing but watch and pray for their daughter.

“I couldn't hold her in my arms. I couldn't comfort her when she cried. All I could do was stand by the incubator and whisper prayers,” her father said.

Fighting for life

Despite the odds, Ameera proved to be a warrior. Under the round-the-clock care of the NICU team, she showed remarkable progress. Day by day, she grew stronger. Her breathing improved, she started digesting milk, and she gained weight steadily.

Each milestone, her first successful breath without a ventilator, her first oral feed, her first steady weight gain, was a moment of celebration. Regular medical tests, including cranial sonography and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening, confirmed that Ameera's development was normal.

Her father recalled the first time he was finally able to hold her.“The day the doctors let me hold her, I broke down. She was so warm, so real. After weeks of fear and doubt, I finally felt like a father.”

Homecoming

On her 76th day in the NICU, Ameera had reached a corrected gestational age of 37 weeks and weighed a healthy 2.15kg. The doctors and nurses, who had been part of her journey, gathered to celebrate as she was ready to go home.

“Walking out of the hospital with Ameera in my arms was the happiest moment of my life. She had fought so hard, and now she was coming home,” her father said.

Dr Walid Alhussin, consultant neonatologist at Zulekha Hospital, praised the collective efforts of the NICU team.“Ameera's journey is a testament to the power of expert neonatal care, parental love, and faith. She came into this world too soon, but she proved that miracles do happen,” said Dr Walid.

Today, Ameera is at home with her family and her father now looks at her and marvels at the journey they have been through.“She is our little miracle. One day, I will tell her how strong she was even before she knew how to cry, before she knew what fear was. She fought for her life, and she won.”

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