Azaria Santos was born fighting for her life.
Born three months premature, she weighed only 1 pound, 15 ounces. Her grandmother, Rudyne Lee, could hold Azaria in the palm of her hand.
In those volatile early weeks, Azaria nearly died four times and spent the first three months of her life in the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Joseph’s Hospital, in Tampa.
Although she was too young to remember, the now 9-year-old has heard stories about the tumultuous beginning to her life. Her lungs were shriveled. She could have suffered from mental developmental delays.
“It’s a miracle she’s alive,” Lee says.
So for Christmas, Azaria has decided to bring a little miracle to the premature babies at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Out of pocket, Azaria’s family bought 10 stuffed bears to give to families going through a similar situation this holiday season.
The fuzzy bears cozy up in a colorful stocking along with a picture of Azaria and a letter written by the Burney Elementary third-grader.
“It is a miracle from God that I am living,” Azaria wrote. “This is a gift for you to show I care about you.”
Azaria reads the letter with grace. Reading and writing are her strong subjects in school. The once-fragile girl has grown up to be a strong, thriving student. Azaria has been on the principal and high honor roll lists since the first grade. She’s also earned perfect attendance and a citizenship award.
In addition to the language arts, Azaria loves to be crafty. She started making rubber-band bracelets for her friends and family. She wants to keep making the brightly colored jewelry pieces for premature babies. Azaria plans to distribute them not only at Christmas time but also throughout the year.
“It’s ongoing with how her spirit goes with these things,” Lee says. “She’s very quiet and shy but aware and has ideas. She’s very thoughtful of others.”
Azaria came up with her charitable idea two months ago, after making bracelets. She was in bed when she decided bears would be the perfect holiday gift for the babies. Buzzing with enthusiasm, Azaria told her grandmother about the project.
Lee’s eyes teared up, her heart touched by Azaria’s idea. She told Azaria to go write down her thoughts and a plan for the idea.
“I thought it was such a magnificent idea for her to think about those kids,” Lee says. “It’s a wonderful thought in her mind to think about the babies.”
Azaria had grown up knowing the story of her birth. The thoughts swirled in her as she planned her charity.
“They told me how small I was and I was like, ‘Wow, that is small,’” Azaria says. “I feel happy that I’m not sick anymore and don’t have all that like when I was little.”
From there, the duo went to the store to pick up the teddy bears. At first, they tried putting the bears into bags, but stockings suited the season better. They also made a red and green poster proudly displaying the name of Azaria’s new charity, Azaria’s Hope for the Preemies.
Azaria and Lee will deliver the bears before Christmas. Azaria is looking forward to seeing the babies the most.
“Some of the nurses that were there when you were born may still be there,” Lee told Azaria. “She didn’t want to stay in mama’s tummy.”
Azaria just smiles.
With the help of doctors, family and faith, Azaria is an energetic child. But she does have some advice that any person should take, regardless of whether they were premature or not.
“I wish you the best as you grow from day to day; by eating food, think smart, love family and others,” Azaria wrote.
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
HOW TO HELP
Since Azaria Santos just started Azaria’s Hope for the Preemies, she has been providing the materials for her bracelets and bears herself.
To donate or get involved, call her grandmother, Rudyne Lee, at (813) 764-7148.
