A young family is getting the greatest Christmas gift of all, as their baby girl is finally coming home after almost nine months in hospital.
In a remarkable journey of resilience and hope, baby Evangeline "Evie" Statler has defied the odds and been discharged from St. Louis Children's Hospital, much to the joy of her parents, Maddie and Dylan Statler.
As reported by PEOPLE, Evie's miraculous story began when she was born prematurely in March - a staggering 16 weeks ahead of schedule and weighing just 14 ounces.
The Statler family's journey was shared in a news release by BJC HealthCare, which includes St. Louis Children's Hospital among its 14 hospitals.
Maddie, Evie's mother, recalled the initial shock and fear of having a baby born so prematurely, saying, "It was definitely scary. We didn't know if we both would make it or not and didn't know what would really happen. She was so tiny, like a little baby bird."
Evie's premature birth came with a host of health challenges, including pulmonary hypertension. The couple was informed that their newborn had a 50-60% chance of survival. Dylan, Evie's father, described the whirlwind experience, telling KSDK: "It all happened so fast."
In July, on what would have been Evie's due date, she was transferred from a hospital in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, to St. Louis Children's Hospital for advanced treatment.
Dr. Melissa Riley, a neonatologist who played a crucial role in Evie's care, highlighted the advancements in neonatology that have enabled medical professionals to push the limits of viability for premature babies in similar situations to Evie.
Over the ensuing months, Maddie and Dylan juggled the responsibilities of caring for their son at home while visiting Evie in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Despite the turbulent ups and downs, Evie's remarkable progress has been described as "almost a complete 180". Her health has improved to the extent that she was finally discharged from the hospital on a momentous Monday (December 18) - which means she will be home for her first Christmas.
Mom Maddie expressed the overwhelming relief of having Evie home, saying: "It feels like we can breathe again. A lot of days it felt like we were holding our breath underwater and couldn't come up for air."
Dr. Riley praised the collaborative effort of the medical team and the family's unwavering determination - highlighting that many people had worked toward the goal of giving the Statler family the best possible gift for Christmas.
And, as a result, the Statler family has developed deep bonds with the medical staff during their challenging journey. Maddie revealed how "the nurses and whole team feel like family now and brought light into our darkest days" at the hospital.
As the family welcomes their daughter home for the holidays, Maddie affectionately described it as "the best Christmas gift ever."
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