A "miracle baby" is finally home with his family in Idaho after a drama that lasted several months.

Malinda Ruben was 23 weeks into her pregnancy when she suffered a severe stroke. Doctors, assuming the child in her womb was dead, painted a dismal picture for family members. Brandi Swindell, founder of Stanton Healthcare, explains what happened.

"One of the things that Melinda had done is [list] on her driver's license to be an organ donor," says Swindell. "So the hospital immediately put her on life support – and the family had assumed that the baby, Baby Christopher, had passed along with her when she had her stroke."

But the baby was alive and the family wanted the preborn baby to make an entrance into this world.

Malinda had suffered from various medical problems during her life time. And as Swindell explains: "So when she became pregnant, doctors had actually advised her to go through with an abortion – and Malinda said No, I will not abort this child. So can you even believe that sacrifice and a mother's love, knowing her life was on the line?"

Four hospitals refused to allow the woman to be transferred for an attempt at birthing the baby. But Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise agreed and doctors were successful in a procedure done in the state for the first time.

After more than five months of hospitalization, Christopher was strong enough to go home on July 13, 2018. At an appropriate age, the family will explain why he is a miracle baby – and why his mother is a hero.