After nearly 500 days in the hospital, micro-preemie celebrates Christmas at home

A baby girl in the United Kingdom, dubbed a "miracle" after being born at just 23 weeks and spending nearly 500 days in the hospital, is now celebrating her first Christmas season at home with her family.

Key Takeaways:

• Ellie Haskell was born at 23 weeks gestation and weighed less than one pound at birth.

• Though there were many times she almost didn't make it, she continued to make progress. After 487 days in the hospital, she was able to join her family at home for Christmas.

• Her story is an important reminder that all premature babies deserve to receive the best medical care possible.

The Details:

Ellie Haskell weighed just 15.6 ounces when she was born at 23 weeks gestation.

Her mom, Sarah Haskell, was already in the hospital, having been admitted to Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton after her waters began leaking when she was 17 weeks pregnant. When Ellie was born extremely prematurely, Sarah said she was "so fragile" that her daughter's survival seemed almost impossible.

"She was taken straight to the Trevor Mann Baby Unit," Haskell told BBC News.

"For six months, that was our world. Ellie was the sickest baby in the room every single day. She had emergency bowel surgery, cardiac arrests, and there were countless times where we were told she wouldn't make it."

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Eventually, little Ellie needed a tracheostomy to help her breathe better.

“I said no to the tracheostomy at first,” Haskell told The Argus. “But now I can say it has been the best decision of our lives. The moment she woke after surgery, she was clapping and smiling – it was so nice to see her free of masks and nasal cannulas. Her joyful personality has shone through ever since.”

Altogether, Ellie spent 487 days in the hospital before doctors determined she was well enough to go home with her family — right in time for Christmas.

Though Ellie, now 16 months old, is still "fragile," her family was looking forward to their holiday at home.

"It was so lovely we get to have our baby home — finally. As parents, it's all we hope," Sarah Haskell said.

"Nothing is more meaningful than having Ellie there with us."

The Bottom Line:

Success stories like Ellie's are important reminders that every child, no matter how small, deserves to be given a chance at life with the best medical care possible. Often, when a woman's water breaks before viability, she is told there is no chance of survival for her baby. Ellie proves that this is not true.