Life
Baby girl born at 24 weeks with feet the size of pennies proves medical doctors wrong
Born weighing 1 pound and 6 ounces, doctors said she wouldn’t survive.
Cedric Jackson
06.11.21

Learning that you’re pregnant is both exciting and scary. You can’t wait for your son or daughter to enter the world. At the same time, there’s a nine-month period that you hope goes well, for you and the baby.

Fortunately, most births go as planned, ending with the mom and infant healthy and happy. But in rare instances, things go wrong. That’s the story of one little girl who was determined to do things her way.

A journey begins

Victoria Bradley and Paul Curran who live in Liverpool, Merseyside, were over the moon when they learned they were having a baby. Like other couples, they anticipated that everything would be fine. But when she hit the 24-week mark, that all changed.

Unsplash/Patty Brito
Source:
Unsplash/Patty Brito

The baby is born

That’s right, at just 24 weeks, Victoria went into labor, followed by naming the baby Francesca Bradley-Curran. The crazy thing is that if the delivery had taken place just two days before, the baby’s life would’ve been considered unviable. That means had she been born only 48 hours earlier and not taken a breath on her own, the doctors couldn’t legally intervene.

YouTube Screenshot/Inside Edition
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YouTube Screenshot/Inside Edition

So tiny

At birth, Francesca only weighed one pound, six ounces. Being so little, the medical experts warned Victoria and Paul that there was a good chance she wouldn’t survive. And if she did, they shouldn’t expect that she would ever walk or talk like other children.

YouTube Screenshot/Inside Edition
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YouTube Screenshot/Inside Edition

Heartbreaking news

As you can imagine, the news was hard to take. Here they had this little baby whose feet were the same size as a penny. Despite the warning, this mom and dad remained dedicated to their daughter, willing to do everything they could to give her a quality life.

YouTube Screenshot/Inside Edition
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YouTube Screenshot/Inside Edition

Holding on

Although the doctors didn’t have much hope that this baby would even survive, the hospital staff still provided her with excellent care. Between their work and the love of her parents, she hung in there. Day after day, Francesca didn’t just survive but she began to thrive.

Unsplash/Mat Napo
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Unsplash/Mat Napo

She was a fighter

Of course, this baby was strong and she wanted to live. So, with everyone fighting on her behalf, she too fought. And it’s a good thing because a miracle happened.

YouTube Screenshot/Inside Edition
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YouTube Screenshot/Inside Edition

Growing up fast

In September 2020, the once one-pound, six-ounce premature baby with tiny feet turned nine. But there’s even better news. She walks, talks, runs, plays, and does everything that other kids her age do. As her mom stated, “From the minute she opens her eyes, she’s a constant ball of energy.”

YouTube Screenshot/Inside Edition
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YouTube Screenshot/Inside Edition

The doctors were shocked

Against all odds, this baby made it. And in response to that, the doctors who initially treated her were shocked but also thrilled. Today, Victoria has a hard time remembering just how tiny her daughter was until she looks back at photos and videos.

YouTube Screenshot/Inside Edition
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YouTube Screenshot/Inside Edition

Still emotional

Whenever Victoria goes back in time or talks about the journey she and her husband took, she feels emotional. After all, they were told their baby wasn’t going to live. And if she did, she would never be normal.

YouTube Screenshot/Inside Edition
Source:
YouTube Screenshot/Inside Edition

A beautiful young girl

Victoria can’t believe all they went through. She said she’s still amazed at how they coped with the unbelievable pain they experienced. But with a bubbly daughter who’s the light of their life, it was all worth it.

Unsplash/Zach Lezniewicz
Source:
Unsplash/Zach Lezniewicz

Perhaps this story will serve to encourage other parents of premature babies. Never give up … keep fighting. You can learn more about Francesca and see photos that show just how small she was by clicking on the video below.

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Source: Mirror, Inside Edition

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