Watching their tiny daughter struggle to breathe, Hannah Wicks and Steve McSween feared they might soon have to say goodbye. Wanting to make sure she would never feel alone, they even bought a small stuffed bunny they planned to place beside her if the worst should happen.

When Hannah and Steve learned they were expecting a baby, they eagerly counted down the days until they could meet their little girl. As Hannah’s pregnancy progressed, everything seemed to be moving toward a joyful new chapter.

But at 25 weeks, Hannah suddenly developed severe pain. Despite every effort from her medical team, the pain did not improve.

Doctors diagnosed her with severe fetal growth restriction, meaning their daughter, Poppy, was not receiving enough blood and nutrients in the womb. The only option was to deliver her immediately.

On March 9, Hannah underwent an emergency C-section. The 31-year-old couple prepared themselves for the possibility that their second child might face an incredibly difficult start to life.

Poppy arrived weighing just 360 grams (12.7 ounces). She was so tiny that she fit comfortably in her father’s hand, about the size of a tennis ball.

She was extremely fragile and required around-the-clock specialist care. Doctors warned that her chances of long-term survival were very limited. Seeing their tiny baby so weak and dependent on life support was heartbreaking for her parents.

Hannah even bought a small stuffed rabbit to stay with Poppy if the family faced the outcome they feared most, hoping their little girl would never be alone.

“We never gave up hope,” Hannah said. “But we also tried to prepare ourselves for the possibility that Poppy might not make it.”

Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Against the expectations they had been given, Poppy continued to grow stronger.

By the time she was four months old, she was still receiving breathing support, but doctors felt she was stable enough to go home. She had grown to nearly 2 kilograms.

“Poppy is truly our little miracle,” Hannah said. “She kept fighting every single day, despite everything we had been told.”

Her parents were amazed by her determination and resilience. On Mother’s Day, Hannah was finally able to hold her daughter in her arms at home, grateful for the care and dedication of the hospital staff who had helped make that moment possible.

Today, Poppy continues to face health challenges, including cerebral palsy and other complications linked to her extremely early arrival. But for Steve and Hannah, as long as there is even the smallest reason to hope, they will continue standing beside their daughter every step of the way.

Source: Mirror