Cleveland Cavaliers star J.R. Smith’s baby daughter, Dakota, continues to defy the odds.
Two months after Smith and his wife, Jewel, announced that Dakota was born a staggering five months premature, TMZ is reporting that the baby is now nearly 3 pounds and no longer needs a breathing tube.
Jewel Smith told the outlet that she’s overjoyed to be able to hold her baby without all the tubes attached, noting that she kissed Dakota, gazed into her eyes and enjoyed being able to truly cradle her infant for the first time.
READ: Amid a Harrowing Cancer Battle Famed Christian Says He Encountered Christ in Powerful Dream
“I was beyond excited to hold our 2 pound, 13 ounce miracle in the palm of my hands for the very first time,” she wrote Thursday on the couple’s website, MyKotaBear.com. “What some mothers get to experience within the first 2 minutes of giving birth I had to wait 78 days, but what I will say is it was worth the wait because those very feelings, emotions and joy that took over my body trumps it all.”
Smith continued, “I … just smiled at life … her life that has now become our life! To God be the glory … I thank you.”
The exuberant mom also shared how she reacted when a hospital nurse first asked on Wednesday evening if she wanted to hold her daughter. At first, she resisted, not realizing that, for the first time ever, the process would be seamless.
Here’s the dialogue she shared on the family’s blog:
ME: Its a school night, I need to get back home to Demi and I know the kangaroo process will take too long.
NURSE: No it won’t take long, she’s not intubated anymore, I can take her right out and you can hold her.
ME: Wait hold her… what do you mean hold her? don’t I have to take off my shirt, get the tubes taped on me and all that so she can lay on my breast?
NURSE: No, we are going to leave her swaddled and you can hold her with your hands.
ME: HUH? YOU ARE PLAYING RIGHT?
NURSE: No, I’m serious!!
J.R. Smith's Baby … The Miracle Continues … Breathing Tube Removed! https://t.co/FSDcFbCavs
— TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) March 24, 2017
As Faithwire previously reported, J.R. and Jewel Smith announced Dakota’s birth to his fans back in January, asking for the public to keep their family in their prayers; Dakota was just one pound when she was born and the situation was uncertain.
Watch the heartbreaking announcement that was issued back in January below:
.@TheRealJRSmith and his wife share difficult family news. pic.twitter.com/efNsDANUo8
— UNINTERRUPTED (@uninterrupted) January 7, 2017
This is hardly the first encouraging message the Smith family has shared in recent weeks. In fact, J.R. Smith also posted a photo back in February on Instagram showing him holding Dakota for the first time. The caption read, “Today is one of the greatest days of my life. Today I get to hold my youngest for the first time! GOD is GREAT!”
(H/T: TMZ)
—
Other Must-Read Stories:
– Amid a Harrowing Cancer Battle Famed Christian Says He Encountered Christ in Powerful Dream
– Move Over Morgan Freeman: Another Hollywood Actor is Now Playing the Voice of God