Despite having an extremely slim chance of survival after being born at 25 weeks gestation and weighing only 1.2 pounds, baby Niah Felix has been defying all odds.
She is now an almost eight-month-old baby girl who continues to amaze her family and health workers with her miraculous progress.
Her proud and grateful parents, Massacre residents Anne Charles and Thomas Felix, who spoke exclusively to Dominica News Online (DNO), said it was an extremely scary time when Charles went into labour at just five months pregnant. Their anxiety was compounded by the news that babies born at that gestational age rarely survive and are likely to face serious complications, disabilities, or even mental illness.
According to Niah’s parents, hospital staff also voiced skepticism about whether things would work out, as they lacked the resources to handle such premature births. But baby Niah pushed through it all.
“I just put everything in God’s hands…” Charles said.
Today, Niah is at home and thriving with her two loving parents, accomplishing all the milestones of a healthy baby. She feeds well, laughs, moves, and is growing normally. Her follow-up doctor visits have also been going well.
Reflecting on the entire experience, Charles said she and Thomas had been looking forward to having a child, especially after experiencing an early-stage miscarriage in 2023. With the pregnancy progressing smoothly, her preterm labour came as a surprise while visiting her mother in Trafalgar one Friday night in April. She said she realized something was wrong when she felt her “body change” and experienced pain so intense she couldn’t sleep. After contacting her doctor, Dr. Shane McIntyre, she was instructed to get a scan done urgently.
The ultrasound confirmed that the baby was fine, but Charles was indeed in labour. Her doctor swiftly instructed her to check in at the Stronach Ward at the Dominica China Friendship Hospital (DCFH), for which he had already made arrangements.
“From there it was a rollercoaster,” Charles sighed.
After three grueling and nerve-wracking days of doctors and nurses trying to prolong the pregnancy—through what she described as painful injections and lying upside down to lessen pressure on her cervix—coupled with intense contractions and body cramps, baby Niah was born on Tuesday, April 8, weighing just 550 grams.
“When she came out, she wasn’t even crying. She [eventually] had a little cry, and they took her and ran with her [to the neonatal intensive care unit – NICU]. My sister ran after them…” Charles told DNO.
She was placed on a ventilator for two and a half weeks, then switched to a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine for a month, before eventually breathing on her own.
Niah always maintained a steady and strong heartbeat, her mother said, adding that her baby’s strength and resilience left both her family and the NICU staff in awe.
“She came off the CPAP on her own… I stood up watching her just pull it off her mouth. It was like ‘Mammy, okay, I am finished with this. Next!’” Charles joked.
“Even the tube they were feeding her with, she was just taking it out… One of the doctors always said in the beginning that she has a mind of her own. The nurses told me it’s the first time they’ve seen that before. They said most preemies have complications. It’s always a battle for them…” she recalled.
Charles admitted that she initially found it difficult to look at her baby because she was so tiny, but she was eventually allowed to touch her, hold her hand, and would often watch the nurses bathe her. She explained that when Niah grew a bit stronger, she introduced kangaroo care—a method of holding your baby against your chest for skin-to-skin contact.
“We would stay in the afternoon, sing for her, and spend time with her,” she said.
Baby Niah’s total stay at the hospital was three months. Her mother also remained there until Niah’s release.
Charles said one of her greatest moments of joy was when Niah was taken out of the incubator.
“The funny thing is that I was more happy when she came out of the incubator than when it was time for us to go home. To be honest, the day she came out [of the incubator]… I was so happy. They said ‘oui Bondieu, look a thing taking Anne inside there.’ I was jumping, screaming inside there. I was feeling good, you know,” Charles said.
Apart from contracting a bacterial infection—which was successfully treated—and a blood transfusion necessary due to her size, baby Niah required no major treatments, her mother said.
She praised God and thanked her “really supportive” boyfriend and family, both in Dominica and overseas.
“My mother was praying from the beginning. She always told me don’t worry…” Charles told DNO.
Regarding her boyfriend’s steadfast support, she said, “He was a blessing for me. He was there from day one.”
Both parents spoke highly and with sincere gratitude toward hospital staff for their care and support during their time at DCFH.
“We are like family now,” Charles said, adding that it was from the staff she learned how to care for her premature baby at home.
Niah’s father, while expressing gratitude to family, also told DNO that he believes nursery staff seldom get the recognition they deserve.
“I want to big up all the nurses and doctors… In my honest opinion, I feel they are underrated. They are unappreciated. The doctors and them, they played their roles. The nurses, they are the ones who are there every day. Day in, day out, [and] night—so many hours. Sometimes I wonder if they are in relationships because the way them nurses are doing, it’s like they are living there,” he said.
“I believe they should be getting a lot more than they are given. If I could write all of their names, that would be good. They deserve it,” he added.
In an address on World Patient Safety Day 2025 in September, Minister of Health, Wellness and Social Services, Hon. Cassani Laville, revealed that between 2020 and 2024, Dominica recorded over 3,100 live births, with more than 1,100 neonates requiring specialized hospital care. He said that at the DCFH, the neonatal intensive care unit has achieved remarkable outcomes, including the survival of three premature infants born at just 25 weeks gestation.
It is not lost on me that this “miracle” was borne to light at our very own Dominica-China Friendship Hospital. Ah yes! We have a lot to be proud about in this commonwealth. Where are Matt, Blue Blue, Fontaine, and Blastings just when you need them, huh?
I Like her nose very unique indeed!
This precious little one has the determined look and confident vibes of a can do spirit. May the Most High bless her with a long, meaningful and impact life!!!
I was drawn to reading this article in its entirety. An inspiration on how God gives courage and strength. I love the Faith and belief of the parents and the hospital staff. They are a blessing.
I note though an interesting statistic in the last paragraph of the article: “….between 2020 and 2024, Dominica recorded over 3,100 live births, with more than 1,100 neonates requiring specialized hospital care”.
About one-third (1/3) of all recorded births in that period (2020 -2024) required specialized hospital care as neonates (birth to 28 days).
It would be prudent to research – what ever the underlying factors, that study may help expectant parents prior to birth. The COVID-19 Era with all its stresses could be a contributor (subject to research).
Meanwhile, We say a prayer for all the nurses that work with these beautiful children and their parents and loved ones.
OUR NURSES are blessed and highly favored. Let’s bless them all and treat them well and cherish them.