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November 9, 2010

When Keshia Cramer was 25 weeks pregnant and just one week from attaining her bachelor's degree from the University of Oregon, she became very ill.

"From there I just kept getting worse. My fevers kept getting higher," Cramer said to KVAL.com.

Doctors suspected that the pregnant woman had a bladder infection.

However, after more tests, doctors informed Keshia that she had double pneumonia caused by the H1N1 swine flu virus.

To treat her, doctors induced a coma to stabilize Cramer and protect her unborn child. Two days later, doctors decided to deliver Keshia's 25-week-old baby girl.

"So I had an emergency C-section in my own room. Sitting straight up like in a chair," Cramer said.

Presley Cramer entered the world at just 2 pounds, 1 ounce while the newborn baby's mother was still in a coma.

"The night of the delivery they told my husband and my mom and dad and the rest of my family that the chances of me surviving were slim to none," Cramer said.

"She should have died," said Keshia's sister, Kendal Hess, "and that something bigger than medicine probably came into play."

Keshia by a miracle that surprised the doctors began to improve. After a month lost deep inside a coma, she finally emerged. Six weeks after coming to the ER with flu like symptoms, she was released as a H1N1 Swine Flu survivor.

Recently, Keshia and her now 15-month-old daughter were honored guests at a fundraising event for the Children's Miracle Network.

"Thank you everybody," the proud H1N1 survivor told the crowd. "Without you it would be impossible for us to be here. Thank you."

"It's a miracle that I'm here today," Cramer said, "but I believe that it just wasn't my time to go."

• Q&A About the Swine Flu
• Swine Flu Vaccine - Time to Roll Up Your Sleeve
• Hogwash Alert: How to Survive the Pandemic of Swine Flu Scams and Swindles

Are you a survivor with story to share? Contribute your unique experience with surviving on TheSurvivorsClub.org.

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