How This Unborn Baby Managed to Survive the Tragic Accident That Killed Her Mom

What should've been the happiest day of Sarah Iler's life turned out to be her last — before she could even enjoy the moment of welcoming her new daughter into the world.

The Missouri mom-to-be was 39 weeks pregnant and already dilated when she and her husband, Matt Rider, got in their car to head to the hospital. Unfortunately, the pair never arrived together as their vehicle was involved in a three-car collision and Sarah died at the scene from the impact. According to the Southeast Missourian, a tanker truck barreled into their vehicle, causing both Sarah and Matt to be thrown.

Although Sarah was killed before EMTs arrived, they rushed to give her CPR in an attempt to save her unborn child. As soon as they transported her to Saint Francis Medical Center, doctors performed an emergency C-section and baby Maddyson was miraculously born weighing 4 pounds, 15 ounces. Her father also survived the crash, but the impact was enough to break all of his limbs and some of his ribs.

After her high-risk delivery, the little girl was immediately put on a ventilator to help her breathe but has since been taken off the machine, opened her eyes, and even grabbed a nurse's finger. However, according to Sarah's sister, Kasandra Iler, it's still too soon to know if Maddyson was deprived of oxygen for long enough during the accident to cause lasting brain damage. "The thought never once entered my head that that baby might die," Kasandra told the Southeast Missourian. "I felt my sister gave her life to save this baby. That's how God wanted it. We've been calling her our little miracle."