From the archives: This story was last updated in May 2019.
A premature birth can be a terrifying nightmare for any parent. New moms and dads may feel helpless as their little ones battle to stay alive, and sometimes it’s the small things that can keep heads above water; the magic is in the details.For Minnesota mom Lauren Vinje and her husband, David, their little girl Freya, born several weeks premature, gave them something miraculous to keep their spirits high. Just five days after being born, baby Freya proved to her parents beyond any shadow of a doubt that she was happy to be here: she smiled. And it wasn’t just any smile; it was a beaming, life-affirming smile that has been giving hope to the parents of preemie babies everywhere since being shared.
