Today's Article

"We have so many family, friends who are so excited, and they prayed for us and took care of us, and everyone's ready to celebrate this little one, for sure." 

Nyla Brooke Haywood is the youngest baby ever born at Silver Cross Hospital, delivered at just 22 weeks after her mother, Nakeya, 3was diagnosed with 4pre-eclampsia. 

"It was a very scary time. I'm not going to lie. It was very scary."

Nyla is what is known as a micro-5preemie. The 6odds were 7stacked against her. With only a 10% survival rate, doctors went into the 8delivery room prepared for the worst. 

"She cried at birth, which is a little 9whimper, but it was a cry. Her heart rate always remained over 100, which for us, that's where we want it to be. So she came out fighting 10right off the bat." 

But that was just the beginning. A team of up to 15 people was 11dedicated to Nyla during those first minutes and days. 

"Nyla's eyes were still 12fused. Her tiny lungs were very 13under-developed, and her skin was thin and 14translucent." 

And then, there was the matter of her size. At birth, Nyla weighed 1 pound and 1 ounce. 15Fast-forward to today, she's now a healthy 10 pounds. 

"I just don't have the words, 16in all honesty. We're just super grateful that she's here, she's healthy, and she's doing amazing."