"Thank you," Serena says. Though she's had doubts over the past few days, her son has proven himself to be a survivor. It's in his blood – Serena has made a life of defying odds.

At the woman's question, she nods, trying not to let the guilt bother her too much. It wasn't like she agreed to be discharged without a fuss. "They have visiting hours," she says. "There are a lot of infants a lot more ill than him in there. I told them I'd be back in the afternoon."