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A Christmas miracle! Baby born 17 weeks early with a 10% chance of living finally goes home for the holidays after five months in hospital

PUBLISHED: 13:35 EST, 12 December 2013 | UPDATED: 16:20 EST, 12 December 2013

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A baby who was given a mere ten per cent chance of living when she was born 17 weeks premature is finally going home after five months in the hospital, just in time for the holidays.

Meghan Hope Pacyna was only eight inches long and weighed just 15.3 ounces - less than a pound - when she was born on July 9 to René, 39, and Mark Pacyna from Schaumburg, Illinois.

Today, after spending her first five months of life under medical care, Meghan is finally going home for the holidays and doctors, as well as her parents, are calling her health a miracle.

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Miracle baby: Meghan Hope Pacyna weighed just 15.3 ounces - less than a pound - when she was born 17 weeks early to René, 39, and Mark Pacyna from Schaumburg, Illinois

So small: Meghan was born just eight inches long; the average newborn is 14 to 20 inches long

'You just have to believe that miracles happen,' Mrs Pacyna says in a video while cradling her baby girl in her arms.

She explained that she was in the middle of her own baby shower in July when her water broke almost four months before her due date.

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When she was rushed to the Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital, 'I didn't know what to think,' she told WGN.

'I just kept thinking - well, they're going to stop this! You know, that they're doctors, they're miracle workers, they're just going to make all of this go away.'

Preemie: Doctors, who now refer to her as a 'medical miracle', were unsure whether Meghan would live weeks, months or even hours. All Mr and Mrs Pacyna could do was pray

Have faith: 'You just have to believe that miracles happen,' Mrs Pacyna says of her daughter, who also fought through a life-threatening blood clot during her time in the hospital

Recovered: Now, just in time for the holidays, Meghan is perfectly healthy and will soon be able to come off her feeding tube and eat independently

But after two days of labor, her baby was born against all odds, the first of many miracles.

Meghan was only eight inches long when she came into the world, a mere fraction of the average 14 to 20-inch length of the average newborn.

Doctors, who now refer to her as a 'medical miracle', were unsure whether she would live weeks, months or even hours. All Mr and Mrs Pacyna could do was pray.

One of the doctors who treated Meghan said of her parents' optimism: 'I said [to myself], if a miracle doesn't happen to this family, which family will it happen to?'

Meghan proved to be a fighter once more when doctors discovered this fall that she had a rare, life-threatening blood clot in her abdomen.

Unexpected: Mrs Pacyna was in the middle of her own baby shower in July when her water broke almost four months before her due date and she was rushed to the Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital

Deserving: One of the doctors who treated Meghan said of her parents' optimism: 'I said [to myself], if a miracle doesn't happen to this family, which family will it happen to?'

But after doctors treated it, they say she responded well almost immediately.

Now, just in time for the holidays, Meghan is perfectly healthy and will soon be able to come off her feeding tube and eat independently.

And her parents couldn't be happier to finally bring their baby girl home.

'We're going to get a big portion of our life back,' Mr Pacyna told the Daily Herald.

'It's going to continue to be a big challenge, so I don't want to say the burden's been lifted, but it's fantastic being at this point.'

'Miracle baby' heads home to Schaumburg

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Nessa90, Bridgeport, United States, 34 minutes ago

Bless that little princess.. I hope they take care of her they best way they can with tons of love ...and be great parents not like the monsters out there

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PK, Kennewick, United States, 2 hours ago

So if she'd gone to term, the baby would only be a few weeks old. Her size fits. Tiny little thing. Congratulations to the family, and great job to the medical staff.

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Apotheosis, Midian, 2 hours ago

Thank God for advances in medical science. Those doctors are heroes !

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wildwoodrunner, Wildwood USA, 4 hours ago

I work at a Children's Hospital and I see babies of this early term all the time. Thankfully a vast majority survive and go on to do fairly well. I'm surprised this made news as I see dozens a year at the same gestation. Glad the little one is home and doing well !

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dandylion, Raleigh, United States, 5 hours ago

Merry Christmas, wee one.

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Sarah Silcox Martin, Philadelphia, United States, 6 hours ago

Makes you rethink late-term abortion doesn't it? They abort babies at that same age.

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Peggy, Leicester, UK, 7 hours ago

Superb news!

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Emma, Somerset, United States, 8 hours ago

Congratulations to all three! The mum and dad are blessed and the baby is so fortunate to have such lovely, determined parents and health care staff. Happy holidays everyone!

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putasockinit, UK, 8 hours ago

Beautiful little girl, you and your family deserve every happiness. This made me cry though, I'm a mum who lost twin boys at 23 weeks. For me this story is heart warming and heart breaking all at the same time. Rest in peace my little angels x

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Emma, Somerset, United States, 8 hours ago

I'm so very sorry! My deepest sympathy to you. I lost a son when he was seven months old. A loss of a child at any time is devastating! Your angels are playing in Heaven with mine, maybe.

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Beach Rose, Morro Bay, 5 hours ago

Putasockinit and Emma, my deepest sympathies for your losses. I can't imagine the pain of losing a baby, much less two. I hope you are both healing and find comfort somehow. Have a blessed Christmas, and be strong. Hugs to you!

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Jenn, Over the Rainbow, South Georgia And The South Sandwich Islands, 9 hours ago

So wonderful and amazing!! My son was born 12 weeks premature and is also perfectly healthy. Preemies are little fighters who surprise us time and time again how strong they can be. Such a happy ending for these two parents.