By Kim Schwartz, Texas Right to Life
Doctors told Kamilah Parvez to abort her daughter during labor. Baby Maysa faced a mere 7% chance of survival, but God had bigger plans.
Kamilah’s pregnancy was perfectly normal before she began to bleed and had to go to the hospital.
“They told me I was 2cm dilated and she [baby Maysa] had a 7% survival rate. The doctors kept asking me if we were sure we wanted to continue with the pregnancy.”
The mother was determined to fight: “I remember when they told me the survival rate, and I just thought how I can’t lose her. We really tried with this pregnancy, in my head I was so upset and I just couldn’t lose her.”
Born at just 22 weeks on June 2, 2021, her mom could only cuddle her for five minutes before she was rushed to the NICU where she lived for three months.
Maysa battled numerous complications, including influenza and three cardiac arrests, forcing her parents to confront the possibility of saying their final goodbyes.
However, against all odds, Maysa fought for her life.
She not only survived but actually improved, surprising her parents and medical professionals alike. Amid the worry and uncertainty, her parents simply took one day at a time.
“We didn’t know she would pull through or how long she would last,” recalled Kamilah.
During an emergency surgery, Kamilah explained her worry for her daughter: “We went off into town to distract ourselves but even then all we could think about was her. We were waiting for that dreaded phone call to tell us she didn’t make it.”
Fortunately, her parents never received that call.
“At one point I didn’t think I would ever be able to take her home,” her mom said, but against all odds, baby Maysa went home on September 12, 2022, after 15 months in hospital.