Mira weighed a mere 532 grams when she was born – less than a loaf of bread.
Her legs and arms were thinner than her father’s little finger.
After spending the first 14 weeks and 5 days of her life in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Monash Children’s Hospital, the now 5-year-old has started Prep.
‘Back in the day, we did not think we would get this,’ her jubilant dad, Nabil Sarawan, told the Sunday Herald Sun.
Mira’s arrival in the world
Ultrasounds carried out while Mira was in utero revealed she had severe fetal growth restriction.
At 21 weeks’ gestation she was measuring an estimated 227g – the normal weight at this stage is approximately 360g.
‘We were told there was a high risk of Mira potentially not surviving. And if she were to survive, she would potentially have a disability. There was a very low chance of her coming out with no issues at all,’ said Nabil.
So, mum Abir underwent ultrasounds fortnightly, then weekly, then twice a week to monitor Mira’s growth and the blood flow through her umbilical cord.
At 29-weeks’ gestation things came to a head.
‘We went in for a regular scan – Mira had not grown, and there were concerns,’ said Nabil.
‘We got put in overnight for monitoring, and the next day the doctor – Dr Shavi – came and saw us and – I will never forget, I will never forget these words – he goes, “To give Mira the best chance at life and to survive, we need to pull the pin now and take her out”. So that is what we did.’
Mira was born via emergency caesarean at Monash Medical Centre and immediately transferred to the NICU at adjoining Monash Children’s Hospital.
Watching and waiting
The next three and a half months in NICU were a rollercoaster ride for the family from Dandenong North.
The couple had to juggle hospital visits, caring for Mira’s 4-year-old sister, and work.
‘It was very emotional, because every time the phone rang and it was the hospital, your heart would drop as if something were to go wrong,’ said Nabil.
At particularly difficult times, the parents drew comfort from the care provided by the NICU nurses and doctors.
‘The team at the hospital are fantastic at what they do. We are forever in awe and thankful and grateful and blessed with the care we received,’ said Nabil.
‘We had nurses that would sing to Mira, that were working from the heart. So, they made us feel more relaxed.’
‘It was very stressful, every day going into the hospital. Even when she came home, we were still feeling nervous about her development, about her growth,’ said mum Abir Sarawan.
Reaching milestone
The proud parents happily share that Mira has been ‘ticking all the boxes’ for her development.
‘She is developing really good – no issues. And in terms of her teachers in the kinder, they said, “Everything looks normal with Mira, she’s doing really good”. That makes us more relaxed, more happy about her development,’ said Abir.
While expecting their third child, the couple were unexpectedly placed in the care of the Monash Health Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Dr Shavi Fernando, who oversaw Mira’s delivery.
‘We were very happy to see him, and he was happy to see us. To surprise him, for the second appointment we actually pulled Mira out of kinder and took her to the appointment so he could see her. It was very emotional,’ said Nabil.
‘She is the smallest baby I have ever delivered that has survived,’ Dr Fernando told the Sunday Herald Sun.
The active, fun-loving 5-year-old has joined her big sister, Mariam, at school.
We wish Mira and her family all the best for the exciting year ahead!