TAMPA, Fla. A baby girl is being hailed as a “miracle child” after surviving a gunshot wound while still in her mother’s womb, a rare and remarkable case of survival against the odds.

The baby, named Eternity and affectionately called “E-Miracle” by her family, is recovering in the pediatric intensive care unit, while her mother has been discharged from the hospital following the attack. “She has a feeding tube and hasn’t been able to hold down food yet, but she’s improving,” said Priscilla Odoms, the baby’s grandmother.

Authorities in Hillsborough County have charged 44-year-old Eric Patterson, a 15-time convicted felon, in connection with the shooting. The bullet struck the mother’s abdomen before hitting the unborn child. Patterson claims the shooting was accidental, but the judge overseeing the case described the circumstances as “astronomically unlikely” to be accidental, noting evidence suggesting he deliberately targeted the woman.

After the shooting, the mother was taken to Brandon Regional Hospital, where emergency surgery was performed to deliver the baby. The newborn was then airlifted to Tampa General Hospital for specialized care.

Odoms, while expressing anger toward Patterson, emphasized gratitude for the survival of both mother and child. “I’m just angry with him, but I can forgive him because they lived,” she said. She also appealed to the community for support to help cover medical expenses and therapy for Eternity and her siblings.

Sheriff Chad Chronister described the baby’s survival as nothing short of miraculous. “What could have been a heartbreaking tragedy is now a story of survival and resilience,” he said. “Their strength in the face of this incident is a powerful reminder of why we remain committed to protecting every family in our community.”