This is Baby Kendra

Kendra Isabella Kjos was born on 5/10/2010 while her mother, Melissa Kjos - a current 3rd year medical student at OHSU, was away from Oregon taking a class in Champaign, IL. She was only 24 weeks gestational age. Melissa was told bluntly by the neonatal team that a baby of 24 weeks gestational age had only a 25% chance of survival. But the doctors were unable to stop her from coming into the world so young and she was born less than an hour after Melissa was told those horrible statistics. Kendra was born 1 pound 6 ounces. To her mother’s and the doctors’ surprise, Kendra kicked out and cried on her own upon entering the world. She had a fighting spirit! At that moment, Melissa knew she had to have the doctors try to save her.

Kendra is currently in the NICU unit in the Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, IL. Every day is a challenge with new medical concerns and Kendra fighting even to keep her oxygen levels and heart rate at decent levels. But she is fighting and each day that she survives increases her chances of long term survival.