Hannah-Ruth Spence is only 11 weeks old but the tiny tot, who weighs just over a kilogram, is already a social media star.
Hannah-Ruth’s father Josh Spence said 11 weeks ago his daughter weighed just 680g and was dwarfed by her teddy bear.
"There were a few people who questioned whether she would survive."
Hannah-Ruth’s mother Megan said she and her husband took to social media to keep family around the world updated about their daughter, who was born 16 weeks premature.
"For me the first few days are a blur," she said.
"Initially we started doing it for friends and family but now as it has grown it is a way to bring awareness to premature birth."
For the past three and a-half months, daily posts on Facebook documenting the "Nicu rollercoaster ride" have been viewed by thousands of people.
The posts had prompted other mothers of premature babies to reach out, Mrs Spence said.
"It has just been cool to be able to encourage people who are going through hard things that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, even if it is a massive tunnel."
After 11 weeks in an incubator, Hannah-Ruth spent her first night in a cot last night but the battle was far from over, Mrs Spence said.
"We know what it’s like to not hear her cry, we know what it’s like to not be able to change her nappies, we know what it’s like to not be able to hold her.
"She can go from being really good to it being uncertain very quickly."
Yesterday, Hannah-Ruth, who has chronic lung disease, had gone without additional oxygen assistance for 35 hours.
While they said their daughter was a ‘‘feisty wee thing’’, the support of Nicu nurses had made a huge difference.
"The amount of times the nurses have hugged me while I cried when things haven’t been going well, all that they have done, they are like family," Mrs Spence said.
The comfort of the department, including La-Z-Boy chairs, allowed for important "skin-to-skin" time with Hannah-Ruth.
"To be comfortable and lay back and hold your child is very important," Mr Spence said.
They encouraged anyone wanting to help families with premature babies to give to The Neonatal Trust so more chairs could be bought.
The family would spend World Premature Awareness Day this Thursday in hospital.However, it was likely Hannah-Ruth would be home for Christmas, which her parents said was a "blessing".
● facebook.com/The-Journey-of-Hannah-Ruth-335958403410032/https://www.neonataltrust.org.nz/donatemargot.taylor@odt.co.nz
