Baby Born Smaller Than A Doll Perseveres After Weighing Less Than A Pound

Oct 28, 2019 by apost team

Sometimes true miracles occur. Take baby Kallie Bender. She was born at only 25 weeks into her mother's pregnancy.

For comparison, a full-term pregnancy lasts 40 weeks. Babies born before 37 weeks are considered premature. Kallie was what's known as extremely preterm.

She weighed only 13 ounces, which is less than a pound. Healthy babies typically weigh at least five pounds and eight ounces. When placed side-by-side with a doll, the doll was longer. Her father's wedding ring could fit around her arm according to the Mirror. 

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According to the hospital, she was one of the smallest babies they've cared for. In fact, she was one of the smallest in all of Arizona.

Amazingly, Kallie survived. St. Joseph's Nursery Intensive Care Unit took care of her for five months. She fought her way through heart surgery despite doctors' warnings that she might not make it. She depended on a breathing machine to keep her alive according to ABC 15 News. 

With expert, around-the-clock care, Kallie began growing and gaining weight. She recovered enough for her parents to finally be able to cuddle her.

The hospital, happy with how far she'd come, finally discharged baby Kallie. She weighed in at a whopping seven pounds. That might not seem like much, especially for a baby her age, but it put her firmly out of the danger zone. Now at home, the little girl continues to grow and thrive.

Little Kallie's story shows that even when things seem at their worst, there is still hope. If you know of anyone who needs to be reminded of this message, be sure they learn about Kallie. And if her story touched you, be sure to let us know!