A premature baby girl who was born at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia at 24 weeks gestation and spent 236 days in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) has finally been released after surviving a series of serious medical complications.
Arya Marvella weighed just over one pound when she was born Aug. 13, according to Right To Life UK’s Right to Life News. During her stay in the NICU, she suffered from a heart defect and severe lung disease and had to receive several blood transfusions.
Her mother, Sharifa, had experienced a normal pregnancy before suddenly becoming “unwell” and going into labor just three hours later, according to 6ABC News. Due to Arya’s fragile condition, it was a month before her mother could hold her for the first time. In the months that followed, her parents prayed daily as they watched over their daughter beside the NICU monitors.
Despite the challenges, Sharifa said there were moments of hope throughout Arya’s recovery, such as the first time her daughter was able to go outside in a stroller and experience the sunshine.
That adventure marked a turning point in Arya’s recovery, according to Sharifa.
She explained, “I think she decided,‘You know what? I don’t want to be in this hospital room anymore, let me pick it up.’”
According to the report, Arya’s condition improved “exponentially” in the following weeks, eventually allowing her to return home with her parents April 6.
Sharifa later told People magazine that the family is adjusting to a “new normal” outside the hospital.
“We can take her for walks,” she said, “we can play with her whenever we want to, we can hold her whenever we want to. And she’s developing great."
Catherine Robinson, spokesperson for Right To Life UK, said Arya’s story reflects the resilience of premature babies and the importance of continued care and support.
“Arya’s story,” Robinson said, “is a testament to the strength that all premature babies have, and shows that, with the right care and support, they can thrive.”