Thankfully, medical interventions and technologies now ensure that the majority of these cases turn out just fine, but the process of birth to home gets much more complicated and precarious as medical teams find themselves overcoming health issues and compensating for deficiencies that might not be present during normal birth.

The only thing doctors permitted them to do was touch Naomi gently as she lay in her crib, hooked up to the little machines that were keeping her alive.

Naomi Joy Bakker tipped the scales—very lightly—as she was born at a birth weight of only 12.86 ounces, one of the smallest birth weights ever recorded. She was, in fact, so small and so fragile that her parents were not allowed to hold her at first.

For weeks, Naomi remained on life support equipment, heat lamps regulating her tiny body, respirator doing the work that a healthy pair of lungs would hopefully soon do. Nurses, doctors, and medical personnel worked relentlessly and continuously to ensure Naomi had every advantage she needed to survive.

Her fight was hard enough. Through it all, her mother and father stood by her side, talking to her, touching her when they could, but they had not yet been allowed to hold her fragile body and provide comfort in the most intimate way possible.

Naomi had to spend 128 more days after that in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) before she was finally allowed to go home. However, mom Angela came in every single morning for the remainder of the 128 days to hold Naomi and show her she was loved.

Naomi is now a happy, well-adjusted girl who smiles, loves cuddles, and blows kisses to everyone she sees. This little bundle of joy gives love and joy wherever she goes.

Naomi was one of the tiniest babies we have ever seen and so many things could have gone wrong. However, we are so glad the story ultimately had a happy ending. Pass this inspiring story along to spread hope.