WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Seven-month-old Ariya Gibson captivates everyone with her joyful giggles and happy demeanor.
“She is so bubbly, she’s so smiley all the time. She loves to just play in her little bouncy. She’s just a really happy baby,” said Hannah Gibson.
Her mother, Hannah, says behind Ariya's big smile is a warrior spirit.
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“She is definitely our little warrior for sure. She shows us and teaches us so many things. Just patience and we had to have a lot of faith during that time,” Hannah said.
Ariya was born a month prematurely and spent nearly a month in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
“She was born with two teeth, even being a premature baby and she was diagnosed with a heart condition called ventricular tachycardia. It’s where the heart beats just way too fast, so she’s on some heart medication three times a day. She’s had it rough the past 6 1/2 months,” Hannah said.
The Gibsons said Ariya has come a long way from the NICU, catching up in weight to other infants her age. They are cherishing every milestone, entering Ariya into the Baby of the Year competition.
“It would be nice to have a local Polk County baby win a national competition,” Hannah said.
The winner crawls away with $25,000. The contest isn’t just about shining a light on babies, but it benefits Baby2Baby, a national nonprofit that provides essential items like diapers, formula and clothing to children living in poverty.
“Seeing how strong that she was, and she fought through the whole experience, it just made us see her and see life in a whole different light and we’re just proud to have her as our daughter,” said Derek Gibson.
You can vote to help Ariya claim the Baby of the Year title. Voting ends for her category on Thursday at 7 p.m.
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