My husband and I moved to Roanoke, Va., from Europe two years ago. We decided to start a family in the summer of 2002, as we knew the possibility that it can take six months to a year to conceive. Well, in our case it happened first try, and we were delighted, though my husband had many concerns and fears because he is an OB/GYN and knows too well what can go wrong during a pregnancy.

I had a very typical pregnancy while it lasted until I had a painless bleed at 8 weeks that was so bad even my husband was surprised the pregnancy still continued. So my pregnancy did continue with no problems until I went into preterm labor at 26 weeks with little warning. When I arrived at the hospital I was 3 centimeters dilated with a bulging sac. Then my bag of waters broke and I was put on magnesium and received steroids to speed the development of my baby's lungs.

Our daughter, Paris, was born three days later, because I had a temperature of 100.7 and was becoming infected. She weighed 1 pound, 9.7 ounces and was 11 1/2 inches long. My husband has always cared for his patients, but since our daughter came so early he has become very protective of his patients who come to him with preterm labor and understands what they are going through from personal experience.

Our daughter is now 15 pounds and healthy with the love and strength God has given her to fight and survive. She lives up to her middle name "Bryanna," which is Celtic for "Strong One."

This is the story of our Miracle.

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