The COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenging time for everyone. However, while hospitals are overcrowded and medical staff are seriously lacking protective gear with tens of thousands already dead, there are also glimmers of hope and positivity rising up amid the chaos.

Erin Bates is the 6-month-old daughter of parents Emma and Wayne, who, right after having major heart surgery, was diagnosed with the coronavirus. Erin and her family have been fighting for her life for her entire life at this point, and are now celebrating yet another victory as last Friday, she was said to have beaten COVID-19, despite all odds.

Meet Erin, the 6-month-old baby who has shown that nothing is ever truly impossible in the face of diversity

Image credits: Emma Bates

So, let’s rewind. Emma and Wayne Bates had been trying to conceive for ten years when they received word that they were finally expecting. Baby Erin was born October 8th, 2019.

However, nearly two months later, on November 29th, they found out that little Erin had a rare & dangerous heart defect called Tetralogy of Fallots. Another month later, on December 23rd, Erin had the much-needed Fallot heart repair surgery and spent a week in intensive care.

After only two days in the cardiac ward, she was admitted back to the ICU after contracting RSV, a virus that causes respiratory tract infections. Her lungs ended up collapsing and she was diagnosed with bronchomalacia, the weakening of cartilage in the walls of the bronchial tubes, and tracheomalacia, the narrowing of the airways.

Image credits: Emma Bates

Despite having heart and lung problems, under intensive care, and in post-op, Erin managed to beat COVID-19

Image credits: www.facebook.com

It was eventually discovered that she couldn’t breathe without the help of a breathing machine due to the fact that her heart had grown in a way that pushes against her airways. Since then, the parents were told to prepare for an extended stay at the hospital as Erin will have to grow bigger and to see if things work out on their own in a few months’ time. If not, they will try surgery again.

As if things weren’t bad already, on April 10th, Erin contracted the coronavirus, effectively extending her ongoing 4-month stay at the hospital. However, by this point, she is a certified warrior and, despite her life hanging by a thread, the doctors announced that she had pulled through and beaten COVID-19.

Image credits: Emma Bates

This serves as a great example that COVID is not a death sentence for people with pre-existing conditions

Image credits: Emma Bates

Erin’s dad Wayne explained that the virus had hit her hard and there were ups and downs, but it serves as proof that the coronavirus is not a death sentence for people who have other pre-existing conditions. She overcame the problems and is now living with a smile on her face.
Needless to say, after such a roller coaster, the parents are greatly relieved.

Throughout this time, only one parent was allowed to stay with the baby at the hospital, and that was Erin’s mother Emma. However, for the first time in a while since the COVID-19 diagnosis, Wayne was finally able to go to the hospital and see his daughter.

Image credits: Emma Bates

Erin overcame COVID against all odds, but she still has other battles to fight, for which a GoFundMe campaign was launched

Image credits: Emma Bates

News of this spread quickly through the internet. And it shouldn’t come as a surprise as it’s the kind of positive and feel-good news that everyone needs nowadays given that much of the world is in lockdown and the virus is still at large. It’s a message of hope that hints at things starting to get better.

A GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the family deal with the emotional, physical, and financial burden of this situation, so consider donating to the cause here. And it doesn’t have to stop here as you can also join the Erin’s Journey Facebook group set up by Emma and Wayne if you want to follow little Erin’s journey through life and her medical treatment.

Watch a video of the moment Erin was finally moved out of isolation and officially beat COVID-19

The internet showed its support for the family and thanked the doctors for their immense help

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