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Special care for early arrivals

19:14

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Axel Rowohlt
January 11, 2025

A fight for survival from the very start: Babies born far too soon. The long-term effects of premature births are often be underestimated.

Amina was born three months early. Now she’s in the intensive care unit and her mother is at her side whenever possible. The chances that Amina will be discharged from the hospital in a few months are good. Thanks to modern medicine, even extremely premature babies can survive - but when these 'preemies' grow up and reach adulthood, they often face problems. Take Lukas, for example. He’s now 27 and was born weighing just 515 grams - his survival was a small miracle at the time. He's living with physical challenges and working hard to keep his body strong and flexible. Since kindergarten, he and his parents have had to fight for recognition. They’re advocating for more awareness of the longer-term effects of premature birth and hope for more understanding for those affected. A report by Axel Rowohlt.

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DW’s on-the-ground reporters are always close to the action, be it covering international events or zooming in on some of the quirks of daily life. Camera always in hand, they report on the changes they see taking place in Germany, Europe and around the world.

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