JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Thirteen portraits of hope, pictures of children who entered the world ahead of schedule and are now living normal, happy lives, are on display at Shands-Jacksonville Medical Center.

Thirteen smiling faces and separate lives are reflected in the 13 portraits of hope for parents who are uncertain what the future holds for their premature children.

The portraits of hope and their stories hang in the neonatal intensive care unit to help keep future parents stay strong. The images prove no matter what the situation, it can be possible to defy the odds, even if the person doing is too young to know.

The portraits are also rewards for those who care for premature babies on a daily basis.

"If you would have seen them in here, you would never believe they would be walking and talking or doing anything like that," said NICU nurse Kim Haulick.

"Fortunately, we've seen more joy than we do sadness. That's one of the gratifying things about doing this," said Medical Director Dr. Dan Garrison.

One of the children featured in the portraits of hope, Kylee Kerce, was born weighing 13.5 oz. She was the smallest baby to be born and survive at Shands and the third-smallest in North America. Barely the size of a cola can at birth, the little girl beat the odds.

"I remember being somewhat skeptical that she would survive given her size," Garrison said.

"For somebody who, by all paperwork and everything that anybody told me, is not supposed to be here. To be almost 3 years old and doing everything that a typical toddler does is absolutely a miracle," said the girl's mother, Jamie Kerce.

The NICU is an emotional roller coaster for parents with children in need. Its hallway, with the portraits of hope on its walls, may serve as a sign of hope for a brighter future.

"I spent a lot of hours out here walking. I wish I would have had this," one father said .

"This will provide a point of inspiration and hope for a lot of parents who don't have any place else to turn," Garrison said.