"I'm running in the 50 yard dash, and I'm gonna run with my friends and stuff and see who wins," says Nicole Barber.
Fifty yards may not seem like a long distance, but to tNicole's little feet, it serves as a mile marker in a pretty incredible story of survival.
"I think she's just one of the bravest little girls I know. She's fun. She's full of life," says Nicole's father, Dan.
But seven years ago, life came to a screeching hault for the Barbers of New Middletown, when they learned the newest member of their family may be born with Spina Bifida.
"She'll maybe be sitting in a wheel chair, or have leg braces, or have to use crutches and the doctors are tellin' us this is what her reality is gonna be and you have to remake your dreams," says Nicole's mom, Lori.
However, the Barbers weren't ready to do that, so Lorie underwent a risky fetal surgery to repair Nicole's spinal cord.
Just a few weeks later, Nicole was born, but three months too soon.
After fighting for her life for over 100 days in the hospital, this brave little baby made her way home, showing little to no signs of the disease and continued defying the odds to this day.
"I'm gonna play soccer, and I'm gonna be on the same team as my sister," says Nicole.
She also hit the ground running as a part of her school's junior olympics.
Even though she didn't come in first, she crossed the finish line, an unthinkable feat not so long ago.
"I'm just so proud of her as a mom, like any mom. Win or loose in this race, she's a winner already for what's she's been through," says Lori.
