It was all smiles for baby Grace Densmore as she celebrated her first Easter at the IWK Heath Centre on Sunday.

The seven-month old was dressed in her Easter best as she played with new toys and cuddled with her stuffed animals.

For Grace’s parents Paula and Neil, the day marked an important milestone in their daughter’s life.

“It’s the first Easter with a baby that we weren’t expecting,” exclaims Grace’s mom Paula Harmon. “She’s a special little girl.”

Harmon says she never thought she would be able to have children, so when the news came she was expecting twins, Harmon says they were thrilled.

At 17 weeks pregnant, Harmon contracted listeria and went to the hospital without any thoughts on what to expect.

She lost one of the twins to the illness and continued to remain in hospital with hopes the second baby could be saved.

On September 15th, when Harmon was 26 weeks along, Grace Neala Tamsin Densmore was born, weighing one pound, seven ounces.

Grace’s Dad, Neil Densmore says it’s been an emotional journey.

“For me, it’s another milestone,” adds Densmore. “It’s another holiday.”

Harmon and Densmore say getting to this point has been rough at times.

Grace has overcome a rare brain condition, jaundice, a serious bowl infection and three operations.

Harmon says her little girl continues to battle a chronic lung disease.

“To see her now, you wouldn’t think she was a preemie baby at all,” explains Harmon. “She’s doing really well, you know, as far as things can be expected.”

Harmon says doctors have told them if Grace continues gaining a healthy weight they might be able to go home this week, but she says getting home to Bridgewater won’t be easy.

“We’re wondering if we’d have to push the stroller across the bridge,” she adds.

When Harmon was on her way to hospital last July, their car broke down.

Densmore says he found a job in Dartmouth as a way to be closer to Harmon and Grace, but with their new baby keeping things busy, he says the family hasn’t had a chance to go car shopping.

“It’s been hard, you know.”

Harmon says with the smile of their bright-eyed baby girl, they’re looking ahead to a promising future.

“My hopes and dreams are just for her to be healthy,” says Densmore.

“We’re certainly hopeful for the best,” adds Harmon.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Suzette Belliveau