World's Tiniest Preemie

In December 2018, a young expectant mother, just 23 weeks along in her pregnancy, was admitted to a hospital in San Diego.  The mother was diagnosed with preeclampsia, an illness resulting in severely elevated blood pressure, which could have lead to fatal complications for the mother and baby.  In order to save her life, doctors ordered a caesarian section, and a young baby girl, nicknamed Saybie, was born.
 
Weighing less than 9 ounces, Saybie was the size of an apple, or a child’s juice box.  She was not expected to live more than an hour, but an hour became two hours, and hours stretched to days.  In late May, Saybie was discharged from the hospital weighing 5 lbs, 6 oz.  This “micro-preemie” fought and survived and now has her whole life ahead of her to grow, thrive and further astound her doubters.
 
Saybie is the youngest known preemie to survive.   Children born at 23 to 24 weeks are now given a 50% to 70% chance at survival.  At 28 weeks, the odds increase to a 90% chance at life.  Modern science and healthcare are making this all possible.
 
Just 5 weeks after conception, a baby has a heartbeat.  At 6 weeks the baby’s nose, mouth and ears start to take shape and their brain begins to develop.  At 13 weeks,  veins and organs are visible through translucent skin.  At 20 weeks, studies find that babies can feel pain.
 
This is not a clump of cells but a live human being growing and developing inside its mother. Yet, 24 states allow abortion after 23 weeks in cases where maternal life/health is in jeopardy or lethal fetal anomalies, while 7 states have no restrictions.  New York and Illinois recently passed legislation lifting restrictions on abortion to the point that a baby can be denied care after a live birth.  They allow a viable, living human being to be terminated.
 
Regardless of our politics we need to stand up and take a stand to protect life.  Please encourage our lawmakers to do the right thing to protect the most innocent among us.