Miracle mum Samara shares Alie’s story:

After going through IVF as a single woman I was blessed to find out I was expecting a little girl!
Alie’s pregnancy was hard for me as I suffered through Hyperemesis Gravidarium, however I was excited to have my beautiful baby girl- at my 20 week scan she was measuring small and at 30 weeks whilst at work my waters broke.

We held off for another 3 weeks, however as much as I and the Drs tried Alie was in fear of missing out!

She came rushing into the world, and rushed away to the NICU as she needed help to breathe.
She weighed 1.9kgs and had issues breathing at first but only needed assistance for the first few hours.
Our biggest concern was her Billie Ruben and she needed phototherapy for a few days; we had some touch and go moments but the support of the amazing nurses in the NICU carried me through one the hardest times of my life.
Being a single parent meant Alie’s nurses took the photos and videos of me bathing her for the first time and shared the excitement with me as she reached milestones.
I look back on our time in the NICU as one of our greatest achievements and one of joy, it became my home for 14hrs a day and the place i still to this day hold close to my heart, as the men and women who spent their days with me, checked in on me and let me cry at them when I felt I was struggling became a family I didn’t know I needed.
Alie is soon 11 and her fear of missing out is still strong! She plays representative basketball and is her school Vice Captain for her last year of primary school next year! My 1.9 kg baby is nearly as tall as me and with size women’s 8 feet I’m sure she’s soon to tower over me!

I am thankful everyday for the nurses and doctors who helped us get through those difficult times and remind Alie regularly of how truly lucky we are.