In an exclusive interview with People Magazine parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar talk about their journey, Josie’s progress and her arrival, which will be showcased in 19 Kids and Counting: Special Duggar Delivery, airing Jan. 31 on TLC
“Years ago, a baby this small wouldn’t have lived an hour,” says Jim Bob, 44. “We are so grateful for the ability to help her.”
Just before Christmas Jim and Michelle, 43, moved 17 of their other kids (their oldest Josh, 21, and his wife, Anna, 21, have a baby girl and live on their own) to Little Rock, Ark. from their home in Tontitown, Ark., to be closer to Josie.
“It’s a miracle she’s doing so well,” says Jim Bob. Agrees Michelle: “It is incredible what the doctors and nurses can do to save the life of this little person.”
It has been an up and down saga of survival for tiny Josie. “Doctors tell us, ‘never trust a preemie,’ because you can’t know what is going to happen,” says Jim Bob. “It is a very day-to-day thing. It is the hardest thing we’ve ever been through.”
Josie’s difficult birth has brought the family closer together, say Jim Bob and Michelle, and they continue to be grateful for every moment they have with their new daughter.
“We don’t know if there is going to be another big hill to go up,” she says. “We are grateful for the wonderful days when she has been good. We know at any moment, things could change.”
For now, Josie is doing well, weighing in at 2 lbs. 3 oz. She is taking breast milk by feeding tube and appears to only need regular oxygen to breathe.
We look forward to seeing her birth on Sunday night!
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- Prematurity Awareness Month – 20 Families Us Tell Their Story
- World’s Smallest Baby Almost Ready To Go Home
- Michelle Duggar Has Baby 19: Emergency C-Section To Premature Girl Josie
I always watch the Duggars they are a Christian Family and Loving what I like about them.
I have been Praying for Tiny Josie and so thankful she is doing so well.
My Mom was a Duggar before she Married my Dad and was from Heber Springs, AR.
Keep the show going.
Wanda, In Texas
Thank goodness they have the child on breastmilk. I know she’ll be great!
I have 13 children my 13th Jonah was a 22 weeker a 14oz miracle and Jonah is a thriving 5 month old although he is still in the NICU on a CPAP I love the story of Josie it gives me Hope for Jonah