
'The little fighter': Baby born at 8 OUNCES defies odds
FREE Catholic Classes
Little Emilia Grabarczyk was born weighing only 8-ounces after a premature birth.
Highlights
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
9/8/2016 (8 years ago)
Published in Marriage & Family
LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Emilia's mother, Sabine Grabarczyk, was only 26-weeks along when it was discovered the placenta wasn't providing Emilia with enough nutrients.
At that age, Emilia should have weighed 21-ounces but her tiny body led doctors to suggest a C-section.
When she was born, Emilia weighed 8 ounces and was 8.6-inches-long.
She spent the first few weeks fighting for life at the Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago, where Dr. Bahman Gharavi, the Head of the Children and Youth Clinic kept a close eye.
According to The Sun, Charavi explained: "Even children with a birth weight of 14 ounces rarely survive. We have to thank Emilia as well for her own survival. She is a little fighter."
Sabine Grabarczyk, Emilia's mother, described the difficulties she faced while watching her tiny daughter, whose foot was about the size of a fingernail, fought to survive.
"There were many difficult days," she said. "And many tears, but she clearly wanted to survive."
Emilia was fed with a tiny feeding tube and doctors dipped a cotton bud in sugar water to soothe the child and ease her pain.
When she reached 12-ounces, Emilia was put through an abdominal surgery, which she recovered from and continues to show promise.
Now nine-months-old, Emilia weighs 106-ounces and doctors report her physical conditioning continues to improve.
---
'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'
Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online
Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.

Novena for Pope Francis | FREE PDF Download
-
- Easter / Lent
- Ascension Day
- 7 Morning Prayers
- Mysteries of the Rosary
- Litany of the Bl. Virgin Mary
- Popular Saints
- Popular Prayers
- Female Saints
- Saint Feast Days by Month
- Stations of the Cross
- St. Francis of Assisi
- St. Michael the Archangel
- The Apostles' Creed
- Unfailing Prayer to St. Anthony
- Pray the Rosary

Cardinals Request Prayers from Faithful Ahead of Historic May 7 Conclave

How a New Pope Is Elected

Toy Shortages Threaten Christmas Traditions as Trade War Impacts Retailers
Daily Catholic
Daily Readings for Friday, May 02, 2025
St. Athanasius: Saint of the Day for Friday, May 02, 2025
The Our Father: Prayer of the Day for Friday, May 02, 2025
Daily Readings for Thursday, May 01, 2025
St. Marculf: Saint of the Day for Thursday, May 01, 2025
- To Saint Peregrine: Prayer of the Day for Thursday, May 01, 2025
Copyright 2025 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2025 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.
Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.