A baby born in New Zealand to Rarotonga parents at 23 weeks has defied all odds and is now thriving after overcoming a series of complications since her birth over a month ago.

The Castledine family are amazed with God’s blessing and hands upon their little miracle baby who was born at 23 weeks on September 18.

Mana Te-Hine-Toa Pearl Castledine, the third child of Rarotonga residents Mark and Louisa, was expected to be born in January, 2024.

However, Cook Islander Louisa’s waterbag broke early at just 23 weeks of gestation.

The family says that without any prior history of preterm pregnancies it was completely unexpected and they feared the worst. They were urgently med-evac to New Zealand as Rarotonga Hospital was unable to treat such a high-risk scenario.

Louisa was transferred to Waikato Hospital, one of the leading tertiary Newborn Intensive Care Unit hospitals in New Zealand, where she immediately began steroid and antibiotic treatment to minimise the risk of infection and boost lung and brain growth for what was to be an extremely micro premature birth.

On Monday, September 18 at 11.03pm, weighing just 653 grams, via C Section at 24 weeks gestation, 16 weeks early, their daughter Mana Te Hine-toa Pearl Castledine was born.

“Baby Mana arrived as calm as can be, with a strong heartbeat. She did not require resuscitation or CPR as expected for a baby her gestation,” the family told Cook Islands News.

However, for the past few weeks Mark and Louisa went through the most difficult of days witnessing their extreme micro premature baby fight fiercely for her life.

She has endured meningitis infection, chronic lung disease, collapsed lungs, heart murmur, four blood transfusions, two blood platelet transfusions, intestine feeding, multiple lumber punctures, blood in her stools, just to name a few, all in her first 50 days, the family said.

But their trust in God and the prayers of churches, family, friends, and new acquaintances from across the country who heard of Mana’s story has encouraged and blessed them.

Mum Louisa said: “She is an overcomer and overachiever already! Her name is a declaration of victory that her presence here on earth in these short few days, is a statement that we have already won.”

“’Mana’ means to be powerful in spirit, ‘Te-Hine -Toa’ meaning young female (Va-Hine) warrior! And ‘Pearl’, perfect in every way, a precious and pure gem, shiny in lustre! She takes after her Aunty Pearl with whom she now shares her birthday with.”

The family said the advanced technology and specialist care she’s received from doctors and nurses to give her the best fighting chance has seen Mana against all odds survive and thrive.

“Miracle Mana has recovered from meningitis, grow to 1.9ksgs, advance with lung and breathing capacity, achieve 24 hours of skin-on-skin, to being kissed for the first time ever by her parents,” the family said.

“Milestones achieved, mountains conquered and miracles come to fruition has been her story so far and with so much more promise ahead of her, to think she should still be in the womb is mind-blowing.

“The journey has been one of disbelief, shock, uncertainty, but also of faith, hope and love.”

Like every other family, Mark and Louisa had to navigate balancing time with their other two children, businesses in Rarotonga, being across two cities, and life between two countries whilst being present to care for their baby in intensive care.

“Their village of family and friends have been unwavering in carrying them, filling the gap and managing their mental load.

“The road ahead is still long, but Mark and Louisa are filled with gratitude for what she has overcome and how bright and promising her future is.

“They are expected to be in NICU a total of five to six months and dream of their return home to the sandy beaches of Rarotonga with their beautiful children.”

A Givealittle page – https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/castledines-pepi - has been created to help Mana and her family during this time.

“The family looks forward to updating their little fighter, Mana The Princess Warrior. ‘Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things’ Corinthians 13:7.”