A Queensland baby has defied the odds after being born at just 23 weeks, to become the guest of honour on her parent’s wedding day.

Little baby Laurelai wasn’t well enough to attend her parent’s wedding ceremony, so Cassidy and James Barlow did the next best thing, and visited their precious daughter on the day, so she’d be part of the festivities.

It’s a moment the couple never thought would happen, after Laurelai was unexpectedly born four months premature on June 20, weighing just 637 grams, or less than a loaf of bread.

“I had been in and out of hospital with bleeding since I was nine weeks pregnant,” Cassidy explained.

“It was constant. My waters ruptured at 20 weeks and six days. Having Laurelai has been a
rollercoaster of emotions.”

The early birth was tinged with emotion, after the couple lost their baby girl Delylah to stillbirth at 25 weeks in 2020.

“I remember the first time I held her; it was 16 days after she was born. She had all these tubes and
wires coming out of her, I thought I might break her,” James recalled.

But the couple never gave up on their little Laurelai, and were determined to have her be part of their wedding day.

“It was very special. We were all dressed up in our wedding attire and to be there in the neonatal unit
with Laurelai was memorable,” Cassidy said.

Even older brother Kaidyn got to give his sister a wedding day kiss!

“Doctors had given Laurelai little chance of surviving when she was born. I look at her now and she is
kicking goals,” Cassidy said.

“We wanted to make sure our miracle baby was part of our big day, so we made a special trip to
Queensland Children’s Hospital where she was being cared for.

“I was so hopeful she would be there with us on the day – it was upsetting being at the ceremony
without her, but she was where she needed to be.”

Laurelai is currently at Queensland Children’s Hospital, and has undergone three major surgeries. She spent 160 days at Mater Mothers’ Hospital and now tips the scales at 4.2kg.

 

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