HOUSTON -- Little Harper has conquered more obstacles in her first four months on this earth, than many of us will in a lifetime.
Harper was due on New Year's Eve. But after a complicated pregnancy, she was delivered by emergency C-section on September 9. It's a day her mom will never forget.
"I was having contractions, the doctor came in and said, ‘Ajshay, if we need to take the baby today, can we do it?' I probably turned as pale as these walls, it was not anything I had expected," remembered Ajshay James.
Harper weighed only 13 ounces when she was born at Woman's Hospital of Texas, barely bigger than a Coke can. She was severely underdeveloped and she was facing some serious survival odds.
"Babies born less than 500 grams at this gestational age, 23-24 weeks, only 25% of those babies survive," said Harper's Neonatologist, Dr. David Simchowitz.
Harper hasn't only survived, she's thrived. Harper is now almost 10 times her birth weight, and has avoided any surgery or infection throughout her recovery process.
On Saturday, she gets to go home.
"Just thinking about what she's been through, from blood transfusions, to possible surgeries, and overcoming so many odds, I'm just so very grateful. It took a village," James said.
It's been a grueling 4 ½ months of waiting and praying for little Harper, but she's defied the odds so far. Ajshay expects her daughter will continue to do amazing things with each passing day.
"I'm so proud of her, it's not about me, it's not about us, it's all about her, and just the miracle that she is," James said.
