Truly Heart Warming: Mother Gets to Hold her Premature Born Baby For the First Time

It is always a struggle for a mother to give birth prematurely, so many life threatening risks could occur. In 2012 alone, over 450,000 babies were affected by pre-term birth - that's about 1 out of 9 infants in the United States. And 35% deaths of infants were caused by this in 2010.

However, survival also does not necessarily give assurance that the baby will be healthy and normal. Complications may develop along the way which could arise to a long term condition. Studies show that pre-mature born babies are at more risk to have Autism, ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and other behavioural conditions. This is due to crucial stages that a baby must undergo in the last trimester affecting brain growth. Pre-mature babies are deprived of this process and must go through it in an unnatural setting of a hospital.

The critical condition of pre-mature babies would mean that they have to stay inside an incubator until doctors can say that they are fit for the outside world. This means that mothers would not be able to hold their new born babies. The wait is heartbreaking since you know your child is struggling and yet you can't do anything about it. This was exactly how Lyndsey Miller and her husband felt given that they had to go through this emotional turmoil for 107 days.

Lyndsey gave birth to Ward Miller 3 ½ months prematurely weighing only 1.5 lbs. He stayed in NICU with so many tubes attached to him for his survival. It was a long wait, but Ward slowly recovers, develops and grows.

After spending 107 days in the NICU without his mother Lyndsey, Ward is finally ready to go home.

Ward had a spectacular progress after, to the amazement of doctors and his parents. He is now kicking and laughing like other babies. He has come such a long way and faced so many challenges early in life but was able to fight through it. His parents are so proud of him and feel very fortunate. They also, too, have come along way, being very patient throughout this whole journey.

Watch the the Miller's emotional journey in the video below: