A premature baby girl, who was born at only 31 weeks gestation, hasn’t lost her “fighting spirit” and is now thriving two years later.
Nicole Tillery, from Atlanta, was having what appeared to be a normal pregnancy until she hit the 27 week mark, when her water broke unexpectedly in the night.
“I didn’t immediately understand what was happening”, she said. “I went to the hospital thinking I would be evaluated and sent home, but instead I was admitted right away with an early rupture of membranes”.
Nicole was admitted to hospital, where she remained for around five weeks, when she gave birth to her baby girl Ehva Jae. Her daughter then had to spend an additional five weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit.
“In those early days, everything felt uncertain. When a baby is born at 31 weeks, doctors prepare you for a wide range of possible complications”, Nicole said. “There wasn’t room to sit in fear. Our hearts and minds shifted quickly to prayer and focus on her health and growth”.
“One by one, her tests came back good, but the waiting was heavy”, she added.
The baby’s father, LaTroy, said, “You learn to celebrate the smallest wins and stay steady through the uncertainty. It changes how you see everything”.
“You’re not thinking months ahead. You’re focused on today”, he added.
Finally, the parents were allowed to bring baby Ehva home. Nicole said that moment was “emotional and healing”, and that it was like a “long-held breath finally released”.
“Our home felt fuller and softer, with a deeper sense of gratitude”, she said, adding, “For our children, it finally made sense why we had waited so long”.
Baby Ehva still has “fighting spirit” two years later
Two years later, Ehva is thriving at home. “I thought having a NICU baby would mean she’d be gentle and fragile, but we were completely wrong”, Nicole said.
“She is strong-willed, independent, and knows exactly what she wants. She’s thoughtful and loving, with real middle-child energy. She steals everyone’s hearts and lights up every room she enters”, Ehva’s mother added.
“She’s funny, always excited, and always ready to party. She loves deeply and connects easily with people”, LaTroy said.
“She knows what she wants and moves through the world with confidence. Watching her now, it’s hard to believe how small she once was”, he explained.
Ehva is now enjoying living at home with her parents and her four siblings.
Spokesperson for Right To Life UK, Catherine Robinson, said “It is great to hear that Ehva Jae is thriving now that she is home with her family, and that the past two years have been great for her”.
“Ehva epitomises just how strong premature babies are, despite how small and fragile they may appear”.
