Born at only 25-weeks and weighing 14 ounces, Mother praises God for baby's survival

'Everyday I continue to pray not just to ask for blessings but to talk to God and thank him for blessing Rayden and continuing to be by his side.'

Rayden Isavic Mondragen was born at only 25-weeks gestation and weighed a mere fourteen ounces after being starved of oxygen in the womb.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - According to Daily Mail, Marissa Mondragon and her husband Robert Mondragon were excited to give their son, Robert Jr., a new baby brother.

All was well until Marissa went in for a routine screening to check for Down's Syndrome.

During the checkup, it was discovered her unborn child, Rayden, was being starved of oxygen, there were high levels of spinal fluid and Rayden was unnaturally tiny.

To help stimulate Rayden's lungs, doctors injected Marissa with two shots of steroids,then sent her home for two weeks to allow the drugs to take effect.

When Marissa returned for a checkup scan at Samaritan Healthcare, in Moses Lake, WA, doctors learned Rayden was oxygen and nutrient-deficient.

Without sufficient oxygen or nutrients from the placenta, doctors worried Rayden would die in the womb. They suggested an emergency C-section, which terrified Marissa.

"At first I didn't want to take Rayden out," she shared. "I would feel him kick at night and he was felt [sic] perfectly fine. But I didn't want to risk his chances."

Fearing for their son's life, the Mondragons agreed to the emergency delivery and Rayden was born at 25-weeks gestation.

He weighed only 14-ounces, was 10.5-inches long and was only at the developmental age of a 21-week-old child.

The moment he was born, doctors rushed Rayden to the neo-natal intensive care unit, where he was placed in an incubator. His underdeveloped lungs and digestive system struggled to work properly but, thankfully, his brain was healthy.

Marissa recalled the birth of her youngest son and said, "It was a really scary time, because he was so small.

Rayden was so tiny, his father was able to fit his wedding ring around the baby's ankle with plenty of room to spare.

"Robert put his wedding ring on his leg when he was just three days old," Marissa shared.

Though they could put the sterilized ring around his leg, for the first few weeks of his life, Robert and Marissa were not allowed to hold Rayden. He was kept in the incubator to grow and heal.

"I couldn't hold him until October 15," Marissa lamented. "It had been really hard not to touch him and comfort him, when he wasn't doing so well. But on that day, the nurse sat him on my chest. He was so tiny. It was amazing to finally hold him and I just watched him for an hour and a half."

Rayden remains extremely small for his age but doctors have reported his lungs have been growing stronger each day.

"It's been a tough month and we've had a few scares," Marissa shared. "Luckily Rayden is getting stronger and stronger each day. Each day is a fight for him but to have him for a month is a miracle."

Marissa has been staying at a Ronald McDonald House near the hospital while Robert remains in their home two hours away, where he works nights.

Robert Jr. has been staying with one of Marissa's cousins and the family struggles emotionally with the physical distance.

A YouCaring page has been created to help pay Rayden's medical bills while he continues to recover in the hospital.

On the page, Marissa offered an update on Wednesday reading, in part: "Rayden is now a month and four days old and is 30 weeks gestation. He is no longer on any fluids or IVs he is only getting my breast milk which is awesome.

"Rayden is having a little hard time growing a couple days ago he went back down to only weighing a pound but as of last night he weighs one pound three ounces. So he growing slowly but surly.

"On Halloween Rayden was scheduled to have another head ultrasound this would be his fourth one I was a bit nervous just because of how common head bleeds are in premies but amazing Rayden's head ultrasound came back just fine and normal. Rayden is off of his breathing tube and it's now been four days so he is doing much better than this first time he was off.

"Overall Rayden is doing awesome specially for being so tiny that's one thing that surprises the doctors. Rayden continues to fight and be strong he is truly our little miracle and the best blessing I could ever ask for.

"God is amazing and because of our faith I feel we can get through anything. Everyday I continue to pray not just to ask for blessings but to talk to God and thank him for blessing Rayden and continuing to be by his side.

"I also believe because so many of you continue to keep Rayden in your prayers I believe God hears you all I just want to thank you all again from the bottom of our hearts."

Please pray for a safe recovery for little Rayden and for God's peace, mercies and love to fall on the Mondragon family through this difficult time.

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