A baby girl – who was born at 24 weeks – has been hailed a ‘living medical miracle’ after being given an only eight to ten per cent of survival when an intubating tube nearly killed her.

Now, two-year-old Isla Tobias is ‘the happiest, cheekiest’ toddler living at home with her parents Troy and Jasmine, who have raised more than £5,000 for Norfolk and Norwich University hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, which saved her family from tragedy.

She weighed only 558 grams as a newborn in 2020, and was intubated at birth because she needed help breathing.

Isla also needed a nasal gastric tube, but the procedure went disastrously wrong when the NG tube went the wrong way.

The baby, who ended up suffering from bowel and gullet perforation, had to fight for her life, and needed life-saving surgery at three weeks old.

Little Isla pulled through, and after 140 days, she was discharged under the care of 13 different specialists.

Isla has an adrenal insufficiency, a condition characterised by the inadequate production of the steroid hormone, and a small hole in her heart.

She requires 24/7 care from Jasmine due to her adrenal replacement medicine, and is monitored by a surgeon, endocrine nurse, cardiologist, dietician, physiotherapist, and occupational therapist.

‘We are incredibly proud and grateful to have her in our lives,’ Troy, 28, said.

Jasmine, 28, revealed that while her pregnancy with Isla was a ‘breeze’, she experienced ‘cramp-like feelings’ at 24 weeks, and was taken to the hospital.

‘Everything was all healthy and normal,’ she said. ‘There were no issues showing on any scans and no health issues for me either.’

Isla’s mother said that there was ‘absolutely no reason’ why her baby came early, as neither she nor the newborn appeared to have issues after being tested.

‘She just decided she was ready to meet the world,’ Jasmine added.

The trouble began when Jasmine ‘sat on the toilet and saw blood everywhere’ – she screamed for Troy, who quickly called an ambulance.

Jasmine continued: ‘They took me to the delivery suite where we were told I was in labour and having contractions and there was nothing they could do other than monitor me over night to see if Isla would arrive naturally.

‘The next morning I had to sign a form to authorise the caesarian surgery as Isla’s foot had breached and natural birth was no longer an option.’

The couple was told that Isla was ‘so small it was 50/50 whether she’d survive birth’.

They were also told that due to the placement of the placenta, it was ‘almost certain to rupture’ – leaving Jasmine with only a 50/50 chance of survival.

‘So, Troy was basically told there was a 25 percent chance he was leaving the hospital without either of us,’ she revealed.

He was ‘terrified’ that he would have to watch Jasmine die alongside their daughter who they had wished ‘so long for – but thankfully both of them pulled through.

‘Isla had a very rocky journey,’ Jasmine admitted. ‘She has surgery at three weeks old for a bowel and gullet perforation caused by her feeding tube going the wrong way when it was put down at birth.

‘The talk with the family care team before the operation was terrifying. Everything sounded like our little baby wouldn’t make it. There was only an eight to ten per cent chance of survival.

‘But here she is today, a living medical miracle as her surgeon calls her.

‘We’re very proud of the progress she’s made considering the difficult start she had.’

Every year Jasmine and Troy try to raise money for the NICU that saves Isla’s life. In 2022, Troy took part in a charity white-collar boxing event, which he went on to win, raising £1,570.

‘Boxing isn’t my thing, but I got so into the fight, and have never shouted as loud as I did that night supporting Troy,’ Jasmine revealed.

‘I’m so proud of him for working so hard and for raising the money he did.’

Troy has spent 12 weeks intensive training at Tower fitness – ‘for a fight consisting of three two-minute rounds’.

‘I told myself, ‘Isla won her fight, and now it’s my turn!’

So far, the couple has raised £5,000 for the unit that supported their family, which helps to fund toys, blankets, and clothes for the babies, as well as diaries for the parents.

‘We are forever grateful for the incredible NICU doctors nurses and surgical team for all they did for Isla throughout her 140-day stay at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital,’ they said.

‘And to Mr Ram, his surgical team, and the nurses who acted so quickly on Isla’s operation day to help save her life and for giving us our miracle baby.

‘We are also grateful to Jackson at Tower fitness for helping and pushing Troy on his 12-week training ready for the big night to raise money for the NICU unit, and for donating £660 to the NICU fundraiser.

‘The support we’ve had from family and friends has been non-stop. We’ve had lots of support, love, strength and generous gifts which we are so grateful for and really helped us on our rocky journey.

‘We as parents would say to other parents going through similar to hold on tight to one another, you’re all a team and on this journey together and need to be there for each other through it.

‘It’s important that you never give up. Just never give up.’

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