Little E’layah Faith was born in September 14 weeks early to mum Megan Smith and dad Eric Pegues, weighing a tiny 10 ounces – less than a can of Coke.
And now her mum and over the moon after they were finally permitted to bring their preemie baby home from hospital.
And it’s been a long wait.
After five months of intensive care including several blood transfusions she is one of the smallest premature babies to ever survive.
“Even our equipment, even our diapers that we have for our smallest babies were too big for her,” Dr. Jessica Clark-Pounder of Levine Children’s Hospital in North Carolina told WBTV. “So we had to be very creative in taking care of her.”
Over the last few weeks, doctors in the hospital agreed she was finally strong and healthy enough to go home, much to her parents’ delight.
“She has grown, she has been able to breathe on her own and she looks around,” says Jessica Clark-Pounder. “She pays attention to her surroundings, she knows her mom’s voice, she knows her dad’s voice… and I’m amazed she has come this far.”
And now her mum and dad are excited for what the future holds for their miracle baby girl.
“I want to know who she is. She is feisty,” said her mum. “I’m ready to see what’s in store.”
