Daegu Catholic University Hospital announced on 22/12 that baby Lee Yu-ju returned home on 19/12, concluding 191 days in an incubator and receiving special care. The infant's health is now stable, breathing and breastfeeding normally, with her weight increasing more than 12 times since birth.

Doctors performed an emergency C-section on 12/6 when the fetus was only 26 weeks old. This was due to intrauterine growth restriction and a high risk of stillbirth. Weighing less than a soda can, ensuring Yu-ju's survival presented a major medical challenge.

The medical team faced obstacles from basic procedures like blood tests and establishing intravenous lines. This was due to the infant's underdeveloped internal organs and extremely small blood vessels. Throughout her treatment, she constantly faced risks of anemia, respiratory failure, and severe infection.

Baby Lee Yu-ju in the intensive care unit at Daegu Catholic University Hospital, South Korea, on her 100-day celebration. Photo: *Yonhap*

Experts consider Yu-ju's recovery a rare medical miracle. Data from a 2024 assessment of neonatal intensive care units in South Korea indicates that premature infants weighing under 500 grams have a survival rate of approximately 26,1%. For the specific group weighing around 300 grams, like Yu-ju, the chance of survival is less than one percent. In contrast, according to World Health Organization (WHO) standards, the average weight for a full-term newborn girl is approximately 3,2 kg.

The "little warrior's" fight for survival reached a significant milestone in September when her family and the hospital jointly celebrated her 100th day – a custom of great cultural significance in Korea. Doctor Jeong Ji-eun, Director of the Mother and Baby Center, acknowledged that the tiny infant's efforts to breathe independently motivated every medical staff member to provide their utmost care. Yu-ju's parents shared that their initial sorrow and anxiety when their daughter was born have now transformed into profound happiness and gratitude for her strong will to live.

By Binh Minh (Sources: Daum, The Korea Herald)