They said he wouldn’t live to see his wedding day

 
(Joseph Santos, 28, right, a.k.a., the “Miracle Baby,” is shown with his fiance Micaela Sando, 24. Joseph, was given the “miracle baby” title after he and his twin brother, Jason, were born almost four months premature. Their mother, Purita, went into labor while on a flight from Guam to Hawaii. Now, nearly 28-years after the event, Joseph will be getting married on Saturday, March 27 | photo & story excerpted from ocregister.com)

The year was 1982.

The sweat was beading on Purita Santos’ forehead. She had just come from a wedding in the Philippines – her and her husband’s homeland – and this little spell was killing the euphoria.

The 35-year-old mother of two, who was again five-and-a-half months pregnant – this time with twins – was in an uncomfortable spot on a Pan Am flight from Guam to Hawaii.

Pains were shooting through her lower back. She was trying to stave off the contractions by propping her legs up on the seat-back tray in front of her.

A stewardess eventually asked for a doctor. There were two on board. Purita Santos repeated to herself that she couldn’t have the babies on the plane – or for another three months.

But once the plane touched down in Honolulu, and her water broke in the hospital, there was no denying that the babies were going to arrive early.

Baby Jason, at 1 lb. 9 1/2 oz., came first. Head first. He didn’t cry.

Baby Joseph, at 1 lb. 7 oz., came feet first. He cried very little, and very quietly.

The doctors thought Joseph Santos would go blind from the oxygen they pumped into the incubator when he was born.

His twin brother, Jason, older by a minute or so, only lived for two hours. Doctors gave Joseph less than a one-in-50 chance of survival.

They said he might never walk, and there was the possibility that he would never talk, too.

Santos, who weighed under two pounds when he was born prematurely, was at one time hailed as Orange County’s “Miracle Baby” by local media.

Doctors first gave him only a few hours to live. Little did they know on Jan. 17, 1982 that about 247,100 hours later he’d still be here.

On Saturday, Santos will join his beautiful bride at the altar. He’ll say his vows, and promise to be hers forever.

Sometimes, miracles do happen. [READ FULL STORY…]