When Sarah looks at her 12-year-old son, Harrison, she is filled with pride and gratitude. Harrison is now thriving and doing better than she could have ever imagined. But his journey to this point was filled with incredible challenges, moments of uncertainty, and a mother’s unwavering determination to stay strong for her miracle baby.
Harrison was born on May 20, 2011, at 31 weeks, weighing just 1.8 kilograms and measuring 42 cm long. Despite his early arrival, he was strong from the very beginning. “The doctors said he had size on his side,” Sarah recalls. “He was already big for a 31-weeker. If I had gone full term, he would’ve been around 8-9 pounds!” While Harrison’s birth was a miracle, Sarah’s pregnancy had been far from smooth sailing.
Sarah had type 1 diabetes and had been managing it since the age of seven. As a result, she also faced challenges such as hypertension and the risk of pre-eclampsia. Sarah was well aware that her pregnancy would come with risks, but nothing could have prepared her for the complications that would arise. “After a relatively smooth pregnancy, everything changed when I hit 27 weeks,” she says. “I had high blood pressure, which meant frequent monitoring and lots of tests. But even then, Harrison kept defying the odds, showing that he was a fighter.”
As Sarah neared the final stretch of her pregnancy, she was faced with a series of obstacles that would challenge her more than she ever anticipated. When Harrison arrived, it was clear that he had already shown his resilience. “The doctors were amazed at how strong he was. But, despite that, he had a long road ahead,” Sarah recalls. “He needed help breathing and was immediately placed on CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure). He had a rough start, but he never stopped fighting.”
After 10 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Harrison was transferred to the Special Care Nursery (SCN) to continue his journey. His parents remained by his side, taking each day as it came. “The hardest part was leaving him at the hospital every night,” Sarah says, her voice trembling with emotion. “I wanted to be with him all the time, but I also had to take care of myself. It was incredibly hard not to be able to hold him all the time, especially when I could see how much he needed me.”
For Sarah, every small milestone Harrison reached brought a sense of relief and hope. “We celebrated every little win, like when he started breathing on his own or when his feeding tubes were removed,” she says. “We were so proud of him every step of the way. It was a rollercoaster, but I was determined to keep my faith strong, no matter how tough it got.”
When Harrison was finally strong enough to leave the hospital after 8 weeks, Sarah experienced an unexpected moment of realization. “I had my ‘six weeks after’ checkup, the one that was supposed to mark the start of my maternity leave,” she shares. “But I hadn’t had the chance to spend the first six weeks at home with him like most moms. It was a weird feeling, but I was just grateful to have him home, safe and sound.”
Today, Harrison is 17 months old and, according to Sarah, he is “the most curious, cheeky, loving, and happy little man.” He has achieved many milestones, including sitting, crawling, and now, taking his first steps. Though his development was initially delayed due to his premature birth, Sarah’s pediatrician reassured her that Harrison would catch up in time. “He’s just starting to walk now, and I couldn’t be prouder,” Sarah says with a smile. “Our little man, born 9 weeks early, has hit the ground running and hasn’t stopped since.”
Looking back on their journey, Sarah can’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude for all the people who helped Harrison thrive. “The doctors, nurses, and medical staff were absolutely amazing,” she says. “They took such great care of him, and their support gave me the strength to get through it all. I will forever be grateful to them for helping bring my miracle baby into this world.”
For Sarah, Harrison is not just a miracle baby but a testament to resilience, strength, and the power of love. “He is my world, and the bear hugs I get from him every morning are priceless,” she says, her voice filled with emotion. “I know that nothing in this world could ever compare to the joy he brings into my life. He is the reason I am here, and I will do everything in my power to make sure he has the most amazing life he deserves.”
Harrison’s story is a reminder of the incredible strength of preemie babies and the unwavering love of their families. Despite the odds, Harrison has defied expectations and is now thriving, showing the world that even the smallest and most fragile of babies can become strong and resilient individuals.
Sarah’s message to other parents facing similar challenges is simple but powerful: “Never lose hope. No matter how tough the journey gets, keep fighting for your child. The love and support you give them will help them grow stronger every day.”
Harrison’s journey from a tiny, fragile newborn to a vibrant, happy toddler is a story of strength, love, and miracles. With each passing day, he continues to prove that no obstacle is too big to overcome, and that with the right support, love, and determination, even the most challenging of circumstances can lead to a beautiful, life-changing outcome.
For Sarah and Harrison, their story is just beginning, and they are excited to see where this journey takes them next. But for now, they are savoring every moment together, knowing that their love and the strength they’ve shown will carry them through whatever comes their way.
