J.R. Smith's miracle baby continues to defy the odds.

After being born nearly five-months premature and only weighing one pound in January, the Cleveland Cavaliers' guard's baby, Dakota, has made enough strides to have her breathing tubes removed yesterday.

Smith's wife, Jewel, took to the couple website, MyKotaBear, to emotionally write about getting the great news from the nurse, who told her that Dakota is "not intubated anymore. That means Jewel was finally able to hold her precious daughter without nurses having to make sure that Dakota's breathing tubes were secure.

"I was beyond excited to hold our 2 lb 13 oz miracle in the palm of my hands for the very first time," Jewel wrote on the website. "What some mothers get to experience within the first two minutes of giving birth I had to wait 78 days but, what I will say is it was worth the wait because those very feelings, emotions and joy that took over my body trumps it all."

She added, "I kissed her little cheeks, smelled her neck, gazed into her eyes and just smiled at life ... this life ... her life that has now become our life! To God Be The Glory ... I thank you."

And we thank Jewel for sharing the tremendous news.

Prayers up for the Smith family and baby Dakota.

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