The smiles on the faces of her parents Ian and Katrina Finlay say it all. It's a miracle that Phoebe is alive at all, let alone up here conquering the mountain.
In 2008 the couple was splitting their time between Queenstown and Brisbane when Katrina developed preaclampsia, a disease of the placenta which can be fatal to expectant mothers.
Phoebe was born in Dunedin Hospital at 25 weeks, weighing a tiny 670 grams - only slightly more than a block of butter.
She was rushed to Christchurch Women's Hospital where the tiny tot endured five major operations and 75 blood transfusions.
She spent three months on life support and her parents lost count of the number of times they were told to say their goodbyes.
"At the end, it was a case of 'I don't care if she's in a wheelchair forever, we're taking her home'," Ian said.
Miracle baby ... Phoebe Finlay holds her mother's finger shortly after her birth at 25 weeks in 2008. Photo / Supplied
She spent 130 days in hospital and later the family moved back to Brisbane, where her parents were told their daughter may not be able to walk or see. Phoebe has close range peripheral vision, about 30cm of blurred vision in her right eye and none in her left, thought to have been caused by the extended period of time she spent on a ventilator.
She loves running cross-country, swimming, and blatting around on a quad bike with her little brother, biggest competitor and "best mate" Charlie, 6. But her new favourite pastime is skiing.
NZSki instructor Helen Freeman has been coaching Phoebe for the past three seasons at Coronet Peak during her family's visits to Queenstown and said her achievements were "really phenomenal".
Initially, she was understandably apprehensive, but trusted the process and her mountain mum.
Phoebe at Coronet Peak. Photo / Supplied
"[When] we started she would hold my hands or my poles and we were in very close communication with each other, but now I can ski a fair distance in front of her and she'll listen," Freeman said.
"In respect of her limitations, she doesn't have a limitation in her mind.
"She feels that she can do just the same as everyone else, which is incredible. With that type of attitude, she will go far."
