Hospital celebrates as ‘chill’ baby Arya, born at 24 weeks, goes home

A baby in Philadelphia born at 24 weeks has gone home after 236 days in hospital, and has since made her first TV appearance.

Arya Jackson weighed just over a pound when she was born, and battled through serious health conditions including a heart defect and lung disease, as well as needing several blood transfusions. Hospital staff cheered as they waved her off when she was finally healthy enough to go home with her parents a few weeks ago.

In Britain, abortion is available for most reasons up to 24 weeks, the age at which babies are deemed to be ‘viable’ outside the womb.

NICU life

Mum Sharifa Jackson, who works as a news reporter, explained: “I didn’t know anything about a NICU or NICU life or a baby that could weigh one pound”.

Sharifa and her husband Jaro recalled the sunny day when they took Arya outside for the first time, saying that from that point, “I think she decided, ‘You know what? I don’t want to be in this hospital room anymore'”.

The mum shared, “I couldn’t imagine it, then I stopped imagining it once we were getting longer and longer, and she wasn’t home yet,” but said: “When you get to this point and can bring your baby home, you don’t remember the other times.”

Worldwide support

Appearing on the Tamron Hall show, Sharifa described Arya as “a very chill baby” who is sleeping well.

Host Tamron Hall described how the little girl had “made headlines around the world”, and shared that there were “many people around the world and in Philadelphia praying for you”.

Angus Saul, The Christian Institute’s Head of Communications, commented: “This is a wonderful reminder of just how resilient very premature children can be. They often face challenges, but they are precious little lives that need lots of love and care.

“We should give thanks to God for the midwives, nurses and medics who looked after Arya, and the incredible work they do for many more children every day.”