S. Fla. Girl's Struggle As A Preemie Brings Hope To Others

MIAMI (CBSMiami) - A South Florida girl is using her lifelong struggle to raise awareness about premature births.

Ashlyn Olson, 8, was born 3 months early at the Jackson's Holtz Children's Hospital which led to serious health complications.

"When a child is born premature they are not mature, they are not complete in some way," said Olson.

To make herself complete, Ashlyn endured years of speech and physical therapy to fix a battery of respiratory, nutritional, feeding, and neurological problems.

Ashlyn is her mother's miracle after enduring heartache years before.

"I had two preemies girls many years ago," said Joan Olson. "One passed away one month after being born and one passed away when she was a year old."

Ashlyn is bringing her story of hope to millions of people through the TED Foundation, a non-profit group which provides a platform for individuals to share inspirational speeches.

"I was telling them it's okay if you have a child that's a preemie," said Ashlyn. "Cause I'm a preemie and I'm a survivor."