Born at just 25 weeks old, doctors did not know if the tiny baby, weighing just 700 grams would make it through the night.

But on Monday, Peyton, 5, will start her first day of school at Alfredton Primary School.

It has been an emotional roller-coaster for her mum Sam and dad Rob.

“At no point did I ever contemplate that she wouldn’t survive,” Mr Kinna said. “I knew that she would come out of it fighting.”

Ms Norman-Kinna recalled being rushed by ambulance from Ballarat to the Mercy Hospital for Women in Melbourne, when she went into early labour in 2010.

When Peyton was born just hours later, doctors could not find her heartbeat. And for the next 25 days, Peyton slept in an incubator.

Her parents waited 13 days for their first cuddle with her.

Ms Norman-Kinna said it was another two months before they could cradle her in their arms, without any equipment connected to her.

“For the more than 100 days Peyton was in hospital, all we ever wanted was a positive, because you are getting given bad news every day,” Ms Norman-Kinna said.

“It sounds crazy, because most parents would say they want more than ‘average’, but that’s all we ever wanted to hear. That her weight was ‘average’ or ‘normal’, or that her breathing was normal.”

The next four months would be a blur of hospital visits, doctor’s appointments and sitting at the bedside of their critically ill daughter.

The family could not return to Ballarat for three months and after that Peyton would spend almost another month at St John of God hospital.

But every day she got stronger, defying the odds of specialists, who ended up writing a pioneering medical study on the uniqueness of her case. 

Despite being underweight for most of her life, Peyton has overcome a host of physical obstacles and continues to surprise her parents with her courage.

It is only a few weeks into the year, but Ms Norman-Kinna said it has already been one full of precious milestones.

A heart defect and issues with her lungs meant Peyton was not allowed to take swimming lessons for years.

But last Thursday, Peyton stepped into a swimming pool for the first time.

“It has been so amazing to see her overcome all the obstacles,” Ms Norman-Kinna said. 

“Her determination inspires us every day and we know that she will overcome anything life throws at her.” 

Ms Norman-Kinna said she now realised that Peyton was never destined to be just ‘average’.

“She was extraordinary from the day she was born.”

melissa.cunningham@fairfaxmedia.com.au