Courtesy of Ben Urbach
Newlyweds from Nebraska became parents less than two weeks after their wedding when their daughter was born four months early.
Dr. Mark Brisso, neonatologist and medical director at the NICU at Bryan Medical Center, says that Mira weighed 1 lbs., 3 oz. when she was born — and that based on her gestation and weight, her odds of survival were less than 50%.
Fortunately, her dad says that now Mira is doing very well as she continues to make progress in the NICU.
Ben and his wife Sara, 26, who met each other onTinderin 2020, wed on Jan. 13. Initially, the pregnancy news was “kind of a surprise,” Urbach says, who shares they decided to get married before they knew.
But since they already had a date set, they decided to stick with their wedding as planned. “Everything was fine,” Ben, 36, says. “Nothing was too challenging.”
After the wedding, the pair went in for a 2 p.m. ultrasound appointment on Jan. 25. Then doctors discovered Sara had an incompetent cervix, which can cause premature birth and even miscarriage,according to the Cleveland Clinic.
In the weeks since, Ben says that Mira — who is currently “on ventilation and nutritional support,” according to her doctor — has made great progress.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Brisso agrees, saying she has “thrived in her care” and remains in “critical but stable condition.”
Mira is making great progress in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Bryan Health, dad Ben Urbach tells PEOPLE.Courtesy of Ben Urbach
“Mira has a fighting spirit and our team is looking forward to watching her progress and hit those important milestones as she continues to grow!” Brisso says, noting that they expect her to remain in the NICU for about 12-16 more weeks.
Plus, she’s growing, according to her father, who says his daughter is up to 1 lbs., 10 oz.
“There’s going to be good days, there’s going to be bad days," he says. “And bad days are bad, but good days are good.”
source: people.com
