Gladstone mum Priscilla Haley celebrates little Stephanie’s miraculous survival

A premature baby girl born weighing less than a litre of milk has been hailed as a fighter and a miracle by her first-time mum after battling her entire little life.

Little baby Stephanie lived the first part of her life hooked up to machines in hospital. Pictures: Contributed

A premature baby girl, born 14 weeks early and weighing less than a litre of milk, has been hailed as a “miracle” by her mother after defying the odds and surviving.

First-time mum Priscilla Haley, of Tannum Sands, Gladstone, said her daughter Stephanie fought for survival from the moment her waters broke just 19 weeks into her pregnancy.

Ms Haley, 39, was able to continue her pregnancy despite the premature rupture of her membranes, but doctors advised her to travel to Brisbane to be closer to a hospital with a neonatal unit.

She eventually went into labour at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital just 26 weeks into her pregnancy.

When baby Stephanie was first born she weighed less than a litre of milk and was smaller than a teddy bear. Pictures: Contributed

Her baby, weighing in under 1kg, was not breathing when she was born and required resuscitation.

At just five days old, doctors transferred the fragile Stephanie to South Brisbane’s Mater Mother’s Hospital for specialist neonatal care and surgery to repair a perforated bowel.

Ms Haley is sharing Stephanie’s story for World Prematurity Day on Sunday, November 17, to raise awareness about premature births and babies.

Stephanie spent 120 days hospitalised in four different Queensland hospitals including 50 days at the Mater Hospital, before her mum was able to take her home and introduce her to their border collie dog, Kiddo.

Baby Stephanie with mum Priscilla Haley and dog Kiddo. Picture: Contributed

After 562 days, Stephanie finally came off oxygen support in September but the tiny tot is still reliant on being tube fed as she does not have the oral skills to eat solids yet.

Stephanie is now 19 months old and has some ongoing challenges with co-ordination of movement, affecting both her arms and legs.

“Stephanie can sit unassisted and roll both ways, but she can’t go back to a seated position without my assistance,” she said.

“Mater saved her life – the staff saved her life – they are just angels.

“I knew when my waters broke at 19 weeks that the chances of Stephanie being born with abnormalities were significantly high, but I told myself I would do whatever Stephanie wanted to do – if she was going to fight, I would fight with her.”

Ms Haley said doctors are still uncertain if her daughter will be able to walk unassisted when she is older.

Mater Director of Neonatology Dr Pita Birch said nine out of 10 babies born at 26 weeks gestation were likely to survive and go home.

However, he said a portion of those babies may have challenges with their development, which may include issues with learning, cognition, and movement which may be signs of cerebral palsy.

First-time mum Priscilla Haley with her little bundle of joy Stephanie in hospital. Pictures: Contributed

Although these signs won’t usually appear in the first few months of life, many children are not diagnosed until they are 12 months or older.

Dr Birch said delays in sitting, crawling, rolling over, and walking were signs a baby may have cerebral palsy.

Ms Haley said she remained positive about her daughter’s future and described Stephanie as “determined, cheeky and funny”.

“She is a fighter. We don’t know what is ahead of us but what I do know is that we will take it one step at a time – literally,” Ms Haley said.

Originally published as Gladstone mum Priscilla Haley celebrates little Stephanie’s miraculous survival