MACON, Ga. — Having children is one of life’s greatest gifts, but the path to parenthood isn’t always smooth.
In Georgia, nearly 15,000 births were pre-term in 2022, according to data from the March of Dimes.
September is NICU Awareness Month, and Victoria Colbert knows this reality all too well.
Her two sons, 2-year-old Khalille and 2-month-old Kason, are a part of this startling statistic.
Khasen is a quiet observer right now.
Meanwhile, his active older brother, enjoyed a game of peek-a-boo during our interview with his parents.
For Victoria, they are both blessings.
“There were times when I didn’t know if they would be here,” she said.
Victoria faces a medical condition known as an incompetent cervix, which can lead to premature births.
Doctors worked to delay Khalille’s arrival, but he was born at just 25 weeks.
“He came one pound, six ounces,” Victoria remembered.
After his dramatic birth, Khalille was rushed to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for urgent care.
Doctors intubated and resuscitated him twice, and he spent 107 days in the NICU.
“Every other day, I was up here checking on him, sitting with him," she said. "I wasn’t able to hold him until he was two weeks old."
With Khasen, Victoria and her husband were better prepared.
Khasen was born weighing four pounds, 11 ounces and only spent eight days in the NICU.
Going through such experiences can be incredibly challenging for parents.
Victoria found peace on TikTok, where she shares her journey and connects with other NICU mothers.
“Going home without your baby is one of the hardest things to do, especially as a first-time mom,” she said.
In Macon, hospitals see nearly 830 neonatal admissions each year.
Kerri Willingham from Piedmont Macon explained, “We’re taking care of the smallest, most fragile babies. They can weigh a pound or less.”
The dedicated medical team helps these infants learn to breathe, eat, and grow.
For Victoria, NICU Awareness Month holds a special significance.
“To be able to have gone through that experience and to come out on top is just mind-blowing,” she said.
Looking ahead, Khalille will continue occupational and physical therapy.
Despite being 30 months old, he is testing at a 27-month-old level.
Meanwhile, Khasen is thriving and healthy.
Victoria Colbert’s story is a testament to resilience and the bond of motherhood, even in the face of adversity.