After 128 days in intensive care, “miracle baby” Mana Te-Hine-Toa Pearl Castledine was finally discharged from the Waikato Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in New Zealand.

Mana was born at 23 weeks in September last year after mother, Cook Islander Louisa Castledine was medevacked from Rarotonga to New Zealand when her waterbag broke early at just 23 weeks of gestation.

A family spokesperson said that, in order to have a fighting chance of survival, Mana was discharged as a healthy two-week-old baby, now at a corrected age of 4.5 months. This comes after being born at 24 weeks gestation.

At discharge, she weighed 4.150 kilograms, a remarkable gain from her birth weight of just 653 grams on September 18, last year.

The miracle baby girl battled through extreme prematurity, Meningitis, Chronic lung disease, NEC (intestines infection), PDA (heart murmur) and many other medical stressors where doctors described Mana’s journey as remarkable and having done exceptionally well.

Mum and dad Mark and Louisa said: “There are no words that can describe the works and wonders that we witnessed in this place other than God’s goodness and mercy.”

“The multitude of doctors and nurses whose minds, hands, wisdom and dedication who saved Mana’s life are nothing short of miracle workers.”
They said that for 128 days, the hospital walls were Mana’s womb, and the medical team’s hands helped knit her together.

“We went from helplessness and fear to hope and gratitude. With the help of all the medical staff, administration to the cleaners, our family story was rewritten! Not only did they play a significant role in saving her life alone, but her future generations and lineage that will come from her presence here on earth.”

Louisa said that she and her husband have walked the greatest valley of their life but in this valley, they found miracles, generosity, selflessness, family, friendship, community, and love.

“All these things lifted us from darkness and into the light. The family reunited as a family of five,” she said.

“After the intensive infection, controls prohibited Mana’s siblings from spending any time with her until discharge.”
They said Mana’s first night was spent being doted over by her older brother and sister. The family were able to see the faces of the doctors and nurses for the first time with strict safety precautions requiring them to work fully masked each day.

“It was a blessing to see the faces behind the dedicated hands and hearts of Mana’s care.”

The family said Mana will continue specialist visits and care for the next couple of months before she is medically cleared to fly back home to Rarotonga.

They continue to share the Bible verse from Jeremiah 29:11 to everyone: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”