A baby girl born in New York at 23 weeks gestation has been released from hospital after spending four months in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Tiffany Murray told “Good Morning America” that her first daughter, whom she named Miracle, is “the most beautiful blessing.”
“I was in the hospital and her name just popped into my head,” said Murray, who is also the mother of four sons. “I kept telling God, ‘I need this baby more than she needs me,’ and when the baby was born, the doctor asked, ‘What’s her name?’ and I said, ‘She’s my miracle.'”
Miracle, who was born prematurely on April 2nd, was released from Richmond University Medical Center on August 21st.
Alex Latz/Richmond University Medical Center
Murray said Miracle Kamili, now 5 months old, was born on April 2nd.
The 42-year-old mother of five said her most recent pregnancy had been stressful, and that her “miracle was born a little early.”
“One day I woke up with contractions and thought they were the baby moving so I went to hospital. They told me the contractions were so severe I was one centimetre dilated,” Murray recalled.
Miracle was born at Richmond University Medical Center in Staten Island, New York, weighing 1 pound, 6 ounces.
Despite being born prematurely, doctors and nurses helped care for Miracle in the NICU, and she slowly thrived.
“The doctors who looked after her, the nurses who looked after her, they treated Miracle like she was their own child. They all loved her, they all took care of her,” Murray said.
Murray said Miracle had a heart murmur and required medication, blood transfusions and a CPAP machine while in the NICU. Now, the murmur has disappeared and she only needs medication to control her acid reflux.
Murray said Miracle weighed 8 pounds, 5 ounces when she was released from the hospital on Aug. 21.
More than 30 staff members at Richmond University Medical Center in Staten Island, New York, celebrated with a thunderous applause as Miracle was released from the hospital.
Alex Lutz, Richmond University Medical Center
On the day of her discharge, more than 30 hospital staff members lined the hallway to congratulate Miracle-chan and her mother with applause.
“They really touched my heart. It was a lovely little ceremony,” Murray said.
In a statement to GMA, Richmond University Medical Center expressed joy at Miracle’s return.
Tiffany Murray and her daughter Miracle pose for a photo with staff at Richmond University Medical Center in Staten Island, New York, on August 21. Miracle has been released from the neonatal intensive care unit.
Alex Latz/Richmond University Medical Center
“We are incredibly happy that Miracle has joined our family of NICU graduates. Our staff of doctors, nurses and medical professionals have formed deep bonds with Miracle and her family throughout her time at our facility,” the hospital said. “Miracle, her mom and her siblings are part of our RUMC family, and while we will miss her, we are incredibly happy that she is now home, where she belongs.”
Murray said she would tell other parents with children in the NICU to take their time.
“Let the doctor fix your baby. God is above them. And take it one day at a time with your child. Just go and see the doctor,” she said.
