Baby girl born at 24 weeks with hands smaller than a 1p coin defies odds and goes home with parents after six months in hospital
- Premature baby Isabella Evans was so tiny at birth she weighed just 12oz
- She was the smallest premature baby in Britain in 15 years alone at birth last year
- Isabella went home to Bishop’s Cleeve, Gloucestershire days before Christmas
- She now weighs the size of a healthy baby (13lb 7oz) after epic battle to save her
With hands smaller than 1p coins, Isabella Evans was so tiny at birth she was shorter than a pack of baby wipes.
She had to be delivered prematurely by emergency caesarean after complications at 24 weeks, weighing just 12oz.
Doctors feared the worst and gave her only a five per cent chance of survival.
But now, after an epic battle and multiple operations, parents Ryan Evans and Kym Brown have welcomed ‘little fighter’ Isabella home.
Small wonder: The tiny hand of Isabella shortly after premature birth at 24 weeks. Isabella was the smallest premature baby in Britain in 15 years at birth in June last year, weighing the same as a can of Coke
Miss Brown, 25, said: ‘Realistically, she shouldn’t be here. There were so many times we could have lost her. But she never stopped fighting.’
Miss Brown became pregnant in December 2018 but discovered she had pre-eclampsia, a condition that can be fatal for both mother and baby.
A scan at 21 weeks showed Isabella had stopped growing and when her heart rate began dropping doctors carried out a caesarean.
Doctors feared the worst and gave her only a five per cent chance of survival. But now, after an epic battle and multiple operations, parents Ryan Evans and Kym Brown have welcomed ‘little fighter’ Isabella home
Isabella was the smallest premature baby in Britain in 15 years at birth in June last year, weighing the same as a can of Coke.
She was put in bubble wrap to keep her warm and an incubator to help her breathe.
And her parents had to wait for a fortnight for her first cuddle. But at three weeks doctors discovered she had a hole in her bowel and needed two operations in three months as well as laser surgery on her eyes.
Miss Brown, a restaurant manager, said: ‘We had prepared ourselves for the worst, so when we got the call to say the operation went well we were just in shock.
‘She wore her first vest at three months, and only then because it had shrunk in the wash at the hospital. It was smaller than my phone.’
Isabella was eventually allowed home to Bishop’s Cleeve, Gloucestershire, a few days before Christmas.
But because she was so frail Miss Brown and 26-year-old Mr Evans, a chef, could not celebrate and just spent the time watching over her.
She now weighs 13lb 7oz – the size of a healthy baby.
Miss Brown said: ‘She is crawling and starting to stand up, and has a great appetite. Her favourite is a cheese and avocado sandwich. She’s so happy, and has a smile for everyone she meets. It’s incredible how far she’s come.’
Britain’s previous smallest baby was Aaliyah Hart, who weighed 12oz at birth in Birmingham in 2003.
She was put in bubble wrap to keep her warm and an incubator to help her breathe. And her parents had to wait for a fortnight for her first cuddle
Isabella was eventually allowed home to Bishop’s Cleeve, Gloucestershire, a few days before Christmas. But because she was so frail Miss Brown and 26-year-old Mr Evans, a chef, could not celebrate and just spent the time watching over her