Baby girl born prematurely beats all odds to celebrate first birthday

Dubai: Miracles do happen if you keep faith.

That is the message in a booklet published by a Filipino couple about how their first baby beat all odds to survive.

Born prematurely at 23 weeks and weighing just 590 grams, Alyanah Zoe came through heart surgery, three eye operations and life-threatening infections.

Fully recovered now, she celebrated her first birthday on June 9.

Hope and faith

“Ours is a story of hope and faith. Our child would not have survived without our prayers. I want to tell the whole world that miracles can happen if you have unflinching faith,” Arlene, 32 told XPRESS.

A chubby-looking playful Zoe on her lap gurgled in agreement.

The couple said they were overjoyed when Arlene’s pregnancy was confirmed in January 2012, six years after their marriage.

“Though regular checkups did not reveal anything abnormal, Arlene had to be rushed to Al Noor Hospital on June 8 after severe abdominal pain. The ultrasound revealed that the foetus has entered the vaginal tract. Abortion was inevitable,” said Alvin, 34 an IT engineer.

Doctors told the couple that even if the baby survived, it would have multiple congenital deformities. But Arlene delivered at 1.10am on June 9 after which both mother and child were shifted to the Corniche Hospital.

On her 21st day in the hospital, Zoe was off the ventilator and opened her eyes for the first time. The couple even celebrated their baby’s first month.

But her tiny body soon began to fail and she was diagnosed with a life-threatening infection.

From then on it was a tough battle for doctors and an emotional roller coaster for the couple. Zoe’s platelet count dropped to less than six and she was also diagnosed with Grade 3 IVH (Intraventricular Hemorrhage).

She was transferred to Shaikh Khalifa Medical Hospital several times for life-saving surgeries. She also endured three eye surgeries, a heart surgery, lung collapse, diarrhoea and several infections.

Zoe’s book

In the book, which is in the design stage, the couple have captured every moment of their struggle with vivid pictures and narrative.

“Attached to a mechanical ventilator that temporarily breathes for her, separated from her family by tubes and wires in a glass box and deprived of human touch, this little angel has to fight the biggest battle of her life, all by herself at her weakest moment,” reads the emotion-packed script.

Arlene and Alvin have also uploaded a video on YouTube (www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSpqpIL2MA8) about their ‘miracle baby’, as she is referred to by doctors.

“Finally, after a long and arduous wait of 156 days, we were allowed to bring our baby girl home on November 12, 2012,” the couple said, adding Zoe is an inspiring story among community members and they want to share it with the rest of the world.