MEDIA: A healthy baby Alba turns 1

Baby Alba turned 1 this week! The little baby captured the heart of the nation when she was born 12 weeks prematurely to a surrogate in Ukraine just before war broke out, and also required serious medical treatment there and in London.

"It's been really emotional, reminiscing about what we were doing this time last year and the feelings we were feeling … and to see her thriving now, just makes me feel so happy," Alba’s mother, Jess, told ABC News.

After months of continued medical treatment, Alba is now very healthy and happy. She continues to face the challenges of premature babies, but is getting all the help she needs including several early intervention therapies.

"There's a bit of developmental delay but premature babies are a bit behind anyway."

Jess van Nooten and Kevin Middleton went through an incredible journey to be united with their baby when she was first born. Due to the war, their journey had to be diverted. They eventually made it to Alba’s side two weeks later by travelling through Moldova and crossing the border into Ukraine on foot.

Sarah and Kara, friends of baby Alba’s parents, started an urgent mycause fundraising page to help Jess and Kevin unite with their baby girl and bring her home to Australia. In a matter of days, they had raised more than $56,000 with over 968 donors from across the country. The three friends were reunited for the first time when baby Alba was 6 months old.

In total, the community helped raise almost $80, 000 for baby Alba and her parents.

Check out other inspiring pages where people help their loved ones, including their friends, family and colleagues, or start your fundraising page by clicking the button below.