North Texas

Collin County Family Welcomes ‘Miracle Baby'

A North Texas family is celebrating their early “Christmas miracle” this holiday season.

June Lane Prater came into the world healthy – and screaming, her parents say – about three weeks ago.

“We’re just really happy that this little miracle is here and healthy,” said mother Julie Prater, sitting next to her husband, Luke, and their 19-month-old son, Judd.

June’s birth was the end of a marathon 36-week pregnancy for Julie Prater, who at eight weeks along began having seizures.

The diagnosis from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center was grade IV glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive brain tumor.

Julie Prater waited until the beginning of her second trimester to go through surgery, and she postponed radiation until later in the pregnancy to protect her growing baby.

“There’s a God who performs miracles and I think she’s one of them,” Julie Prater said. “We went through neurosurgery together, two almost threatened miscarriages and radiation. When everyone leaves the room and she was in me. I think she’s a little miracle.”

Julie Prater has now started oral chemotherapy since her daughter’s birth.

She’ll continue with that line of treatment for the next year and said she and her family are enjoying every day that they have together.

The Praters are starting Head4Hope, a nonprofit for brain tumor research and awareness.

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