ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- On her first birthday, Kimbriah the “Miracle Baby” received a cake. And she happily smashed it. The little tyke more than earned the mess.
Kimbriah born extremely premature. She weight just over one pound at birth with fingers no longer than grains of wild rice. Her chance of survival was perilously low.
“She is a miracle baby,” says Dr. Joana Machry, the main physician who cares for Kimbriah and guided her through several near-death moments at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg.
“It’s been a lot of stressful nights, and a lot of early mornings, but I’m grateful,” says Kimbriah’s mom, Katrina Mack.
Kimbriah suffered through lung and heart problems, and numerous surgeries. She is still on a ventilator to help her lungs grow.
Her struggles did not stop the little wonder. She is a fighter through and through.
For her birthday the staff at John Hopkins threw her a “tutus and tiaras” princess party in her NICU room, festooned with balloons, decorations and Disney music.
A crowd of doctors, nurses and more — who have all helped her this past year — cheered when she went after her birthday “smashcake” with gusto, eventually smearing it all over her face.
The miracle baby is finally expected to go home on May 29.
Doctors say by her next birthday, Kimbriah should be well on her way to being a healthy, happy little girl.
