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Applegate welcomed her daughter on May 29, just under four months from their baby girl’s due date
NEED TO KNOW
- Jessica-Jane Applegate’s baby girl reached a major milestone during her stay at the neonatal intensive care unit
- The paralympian, who welcomed her daughter Alara at 23 weeks gestation, shared that her daughter was finally able to come off the ventilator
- Applegate and her partner Declan Jermy first found out they were expecting their first baby together back in January
Jessica-Jane Applegate’s baby girl reached a major milestone during her stay at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
The paralympian, who welcomed her daughter Alara at 23 weeks gestation, shared an update on her daughter’s health journey on Instagram on Wednesday, July 22. In the caption for the post, which featured a recent photo of her little girl, Applegate, 29, revealed that her daughter was finally able to come off the ventilator.
“A little update on our amazing Alara ❤️ Yesterday was a huge milestone for our little warrior,” she began. “After nearly two weeks of repeated lung collapses, being treated with antibiotics for suspected NEC, and being diagnosed with an underactive thyroid, Alara was finally able to come off the ventilator and move onto BiPAP.”
“She has now managed over 12 hours on BiPAP, and we couldn’t be prouder. It’s another incredible step forward, and she’s continuing to show everyone just how strong and determined she is,” Applegate continued. “We know there is still a long journey ahead, with her immunisations this Friday and her first eye screening next Tuesday, but for today we’re celebrating this huge achievement.”
Applegate, who shares her daughter with her partner Declan Jermy, went on to thank those who have supported them and helped “carry us through the hardest days.”
“As always, thank you to everyone who continues to support us, donate, share our story, and keep Alara in your thoughts,” she wrote. “Your kindness has helped carry us through the hardest days, and we’ll never be able to thank you enough. ❤️ #mircopreemie.”
Applegate found out that she was expecting her first baby with Jermy in January. In her JustGiving fundraiser description, the new mom shared that hearing that she was pregnant was “the most incredible news,” adding she and Jermy “couldn’t have been happier.
“The early weeks weren’t easy. I experienced bleeding for many weeks due to a haematoma, but thankfully it resolved by 16 weeks,” she explained. “That same week, we found out we were having a little girl. We were over the moon and already had the perfect name picked out — Alara.”
Based on how her pregnancy began, Applegate shared that she and her partner made a conscious decision to hold off on sharing the news until after their 20-week scan. A few weeks later, the then-expectant mom said they “finally felt safe enough to let ourselves enjoy the pregnancy and look forward to meeting our little girl.”
In a black-and-white clip shared on Instagram on May 9, Jermy stood with his back toward the camera as Applegate put her arms around him, holding baby shoes and a sonogram strip. After she rested her arms over his shoulders, Jermy turned his hat around to reveal the words “Dad” while Applegate showed off her matching “Mom” hat.
“We’ve been keeping a secret 🖤 #babyannouncement,” the couple simply captioned the joint post, which also revealed that their little one would be due in September.
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Applegate delivered her daughter on May 29 at 23 weeks and 2 days of gestation, with the newborn weighing a little over 1 lb.
“She was placed on life support immediately after birth, and from that moment, our lives changed forever,” she explained. “We know Alara will remain in hospital until at least her original due date, possibly longer, as she continues her fight. We are incredibly grateful that she is receiving the specialist care she needs, even though it means being far from home. Thankfully, the hospital has kindly provided shared accommodation for parents so we can stay close to her.”
“Alara is one month old and has now reached 27 weeks’ corrected gestation. Every day is another milestone. Our little warrior has already overcome more than most people face in a lifetime,” Applegate shared. “She has undergone surgery, received several blood transfusions, and has been battling with the development of her tiny lungs.”
She then went on to share that the financial strain she and her husband are going through during this time has become “overwhelming.” She explained that her partner had to take time away from his job to support them, adding that paternity leave and statutory pay don’t cover “the reality of our situation.” Applegate concluded her post thanking anyone who helped their “beautiful little warrior” in any way.
“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness, your support, and for keeping our beautiful little warrior, Alara, in your thoughts,” she said. “Every message, every share, and every donation reminds us that we’re not facing this journey alone.”
Read the original article on People
