In a small house nestled deep in a narrow alley on Tran Hung Dao Street (Quang Trung Ward, Vinh City, Nghe An Province), baby Hen is sleeping soundly in her crib. The tiny infant is cocooned in a soft blanket. Occasionally, she smiles in her sleep, like a little angel bringing immense hope to her family after a grueling 100-day battle for survival.
Nguyen Thi Hoa (born 1981), the resilient mother, sits beside her daughter with eyes full of love. “We had mentally prepared for the worst,” Hoa recalls, her voice dropping as she recounts the stressful months that have passed.
Baby Hen’s Fight for Survival
Hen is the fourth child in the family, affectionately named after her parents’ bun hen (clam rice noodle) business. Prior to Hen’s birth, Hoa had given birth to her third daughter just 15 months earlier. Remarkably, throughout more than four months of pregnancy, Hoa experienced no noticeable symptoms. In September 2024, feeling fatigued and experiencing mild abdominal pain, she visited a clinic for a check-up. The results shocked her: she was already 24 weeks pregnant.
Three days later, Hoa showed signs of premature labor and was rushed to Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital. After enduring labor pains for four days, early morning on September 27, 2024, her water broke suddenly. With the fetus in a breech position, feet-first, doctors quickly moved her into the delivery room. Hen was born at just 25 weeks gestation, weighing a mere 550 grams – an extremely critical weight.
“When the doctor said there was only a 1% chance of survival, I was devastated…” Hoa emotionally recalled that fateful moment.
Each day, Hoa was allowed only 15 minutes to visit her baby. Seeing her fragile, wrinkled body, eyes still closed, surrounded by countless wires and machines, the mother’s heart ached. However, hope began to flicker when doctors informed her that if Hen survived the first 10 days, her chances of survival would improve. Day seven passed, then ten, then fifteen, and the family’s hope grew stronger.
100 Days of Medical Dedication
According to Dr. Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen, Head of Neonatal Intensive Care, Hen is the smallest preterm infant the hospital has ever successfully treated. From the time the mother was admitted until delivery, the process was closely monitored through collaboration between the Obstetrics and Neonatal Intensive Care departments.
Hen was born without breathing, crying, or reflexes. She was immediately intubated and transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Her condition was dire: underdeveloped organs faced risks of respiratory failure, brain hemorrhage, intestinal necrosis, metabolic disorders… The mortality risk was as high as 99%.
“Faced with such a fragile life and the trust of the family, we were determined to give our all,” Dr. Huyen shared.
Hen was placed in an incubator, supported by mechanical ventilation, fitted with a longline (central venous catheter), sustained with vasopressor medications, and treated for jaundice and retinopathy. Every three hours, doctors meticulously monitored each health parameter. There were moments when it seemed Hen might not make it, showing signs of cyanosis and critical instability. But thanks to the relentless efforts of the medical team and her strong survival instinct, Hen gradually stabilized, gained weight, and developed organ function.
By December 8, 2024, Hen was weaned off the ventilator and transitioned to oxygen therapy, beginning to practice feeding. On January 6, 2025, she was officially discharged, weighing 2.1 kilograms – equivalent to a full-term infant’s weight.
A Medical Miracle and Family Reunion
Saving Hen is considered a remarkable achievement by the medical team at Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital. However, due to her extreme prematurity, Hen still requires close monitoring of her environment, nutrition, and regular follow-up visits.
“The moment I held my baby skin-to-skin, I cried tears of happiness. The 100 days I waited for her were also the 100 days the doctors stood by her side. Thank you for saving her life so we could celebrate a complete Lunar New Year together,” Hoa said, choking up.
The Hoa family is considering choosing a meaningful name to register for baby Hen – the little girl who conquered death and became a symbol of hope and resilience.
