“I
’ll be home for Christmas” will always have a special meaning for Sussie Bea Patrick. And no doubt chocolate bars will always be her favorite candy.
Born in June, four months early, Sussie has left the Neo Natal unit at Arrowe Par hospital in Northwest England and will celebrate her first Christmas at home with mother Jodie Marrin and her dad Lee Patrick.
When Sussie was born at 22 weeks she was so tiny doctors said she was the size of a chocolate bar. One pound, one ounce to be exact.
As is always the case with extreme preemies, the circumstances were harrowing and doctors immediately told the parents Sussie’s survival chances were “non-existent.” Medics added, if somehow she did survive, Sussie’s life would be bleak.
“They said she wouldn’t have a quality of life but we said ‘look that’s something that we will have to deal with but if she’s fighting we have to fight,” Lee Patrick told Emilia Bona of The Mirror. “And she’s here now.”
While Sussie is still on oxygen, her dad said his daughter is “perfect” and called her “his little miracle.”
There were no indications that Sussie would come early, Bona reported. Best guess is sepsis sent the “perfectly normal” pregnancy off course when either Jodie or Sussie contracted a bug.
