The parents of a one-year-old baby are on a mission to spread the message "where there is life, there is hope" after their daughter overcame all odds in her fight for life.
Aria Rose from Co Leitrim was born two months premature and was expected to live for just two to three months.
At only six weeks old, doctors told Aria Rose's parents, Shane and Tracie, that their baby was suffering from a broad range of conditions and would never interact, have function of her limbs, suck, breathe, swallow, walk or talk or think for herself.
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However, she continued to thrive despite this and soon came away from NG tube feeds.
In a GoFundMe post created to help raise some much-needed funds for medical needs, extensive therapy and adaptations, her parents wrote: "With one squeeze of our finger from her tiny premature hand, we knew it was a sign from her saying hold on, I'm a fighter, don't let go "so we trusted in her, we held on tight for a fight, and that is what she did.
"We were told that she would never interact with us, she would never have function of her limbs, she would never suck, breathe or swallow, walk or talk and never think for herself. On that note, we were transferred to our local hospital in Sligo.
"On arrival there, Aria Rose did more than thrive. She grew bigger and stronger and miraculously mastered drinking her bottles and soon came away from NG tube feeds.
"She was diagnosed with covid-19 and beat that no problem, then went on to Crumlin to convince a board of nine surgeons that she deserved the chance of a better life and qualified for heart surgery (PDA closure, 1 of the holes in her heart ) that improved her quality of life.
"And during this operation, she received her VP shunt in her brain, that all went very well."
After her operation, Aria Rose was allowed to come home to Leitrim for the first time in her eight-month life.
But unfortunately, her stay at home lasted for just six days before Aria Rose became ill with rhino entro virus and had to be rushed to Crumlin hospital by garda escort.
Here she spent 48 hours in critical condition as her parents braced for the worst.
However, once again, Aria Rose proved that she is a fighter, pulling through her illness after three days.
Sadly, after returning home from her hospital stay, the now one-year-old became ill again, this time from aspiration pneumonia.
Shane and Tracie said: "We were transferred to Temple Street, Picu Ward, and then transferred back to Crumlin to have surgery for a peg feeding tube into her stomach and trail pressures on a BiPAP ventilation system for home use once she was stable, third time lucky we are hoping. Unfortunately, Aria Rose suffered some more damage to her heart from 3 cardiac arrests, rhino entro virus and aspiration pneumonia all within the space of two months and had a recent visit to PICU again."
Aria Rose is currently in Crumlin Children's Hospital and hopes to return home soon.
Her parents added: "Aria Rose has defied all odds and is teaching a lot of us to see the world differently.
"She has a purpose on this earth, and she is proven she is worth every minute she is here in our lives, she really is a magic miracle baby and has brought so many people together from all over the world in prayer for her, and we are forever grateful for that, she is our HERO, HOPE and INSPIRATION.
"We would love for the world to know of her and learn that where there is life, there is hope."
If you would like to donate to Aria Rose's GoFundMe, click here.
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