A mum who was told her baby “wouldn’t make it” after he was born so small he fit in her bra is now home and thriving after 181 days in hospital.
Zaylan Reed weighed 1lb 6oz after being born when Krysten Risbon, 22, went into labour at 23 weeks and six days - 16 weeks early.
He had a hole in his heart and spent the next few months on and off oxygen.
But he's finally home and thriving, and Krysten is now studying to become a NICU nurse, inspired by her care.
Krysten, from Altoona, Pennsylvania, said: "When I first held him he sat in my bra.
"Now only his foot fits in.
“They had told us he probably wasn’t going to make it.
“He’s a little fighter.
“He’s a miracle.”
Krysten and Janerio Reed, 20, a detailer, were over the moon when they found out they were expecting their first baby in August 2022.
Krysten started bleeding at 23 weeks and six days, and went to hospital but doctors assumed it was a yeast infection and send her home with medication, she said.
Krysten said: “I instantly started having more pain.
“I was up all night screaming.”
The couple went back to hospital when her pain didn’t ease and doctors discovered she was 4cm dilated.
Krysten said: “They said – ‘You’re going to have this baby today. He’s probably not going to make it’.
“I started crying.”
Krysten was taken by helicopter to UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital which has specialist tiny baby equipment.
Krysten said: “It was scary. I just keeping thinking ‘please just get us there’.
“Nobody could come with me.
“I just felt like everything was going to be ok.”
They gave her steroids to help the baby’s lungs and the doctors were able to halt the birth for another two days, until December 23 2022.
Janerio cut the cord before his son was whisked away to the neonatal unit.
Krysten said: “When they took him down I was pretty scared.
“He was so tiny he fit in the palm of my hand."
Zaylan was born with a hole in his heart and spent the next 181 days on and off oxygen.
He had surgery after being born with ROP – an eye disease which can occur when babies are born prematurely – to improve his eyesight.
Finally, after being fitted with a feeding tube Zaylan was able to come home June 21 2023.
.
Krysten said: “It's was unreal having him home.
"It’s pretty insane. I can’t believe how small he was.
“He used to hold my finger with his whole hand.
“He used to be the size of a thumb print of his foot.
“He’s pretty funny. He’s a grump – he gives me the side eye.
"He smiles and laughs all the time."
Krysten now starts her studies to be a nurse in the Autum at Mount Aloysius College.
Zaylan Reed weighed 1lb 6oz after being born when Krysten Risbon, 22, went into labour at 23 weeks and six days - 16 weeks early.
He had a hole in his heart and spent the next few months on and off oxygen.
But he's finally home and thriving, and Krysten is now studying to become a NICU nurse, inspired by her care.
Krysten, from Altoona, Pennsylvania, said: "When I first held him he sat in my bra.
"Now only his foot fits in.
“They had told us he probably wasn’t going to make it.
“He’s a little fighter.
“He’s a miracle.”
Krysten and Janerio Reed, 20, a detailer, were over the moon when they found out they were expecting their first baby in August 2022.
Krysten started bleeding at 23 weeks and six days, and went to hospital but doctors assumed it was a yeast infection and send her home with medication, she said.
Krysten said: “I instantly started having more pain.
“I was up all night screaming.”
The couple went back to hospital when her pain didn’t ease and doctors discovered she was 4cm dilated.
Krysten said: “They said – ‘You’re going to have this baby today. He’s probably not going to make it’.
“I started crying.”
Krysten was taken by helicopter to UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital which has specialist tiny baby equipment.
Krysten said: “It was scary. I just keeping thinking ‘please just get us there’.
“Nobody could come with me.
“I just felt like everything was going to be ok.”
They gave her steroids to help the baby’s lungs and the doctors were able to halt the birth for another two days, until December 23 2022.
Janerio cut the cord before his son was whisked away to the neonatal unit.
Krysten said: “When they took him down I was pretty scared.
“He was so tiny he fit in the palm of my hand."
Zaylan was born with a hole in his heart and spent the next 181 days on and off oxygen.
He had surgery after being born with ROP – an eye disease which can occur when babies are born prematurely – to improve his eyesight.
Finally, after being fitted with a feeding tube Zaylan was able to come home June 21 2023.
.
Krysten said: “It's was unreal having him home.
"It’s pretty insane. I can’t believe how small he was.
“He used to hold my finger with his whole hand.
“He used to be the size of a thumb print of his foot.
“He’s pretty funny. He’s a grump – he gives me the side eye.
"He smiles and laughs all the time."
Krysten now starts her studies to be a nurse in the Autum at Mount Aloysius College.
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