In December 2020, a baby named Kendall was born prematurely at just 25 weeks of pregnancy, weighing only 425 grams.
Now, Kendall Jurnakins has grown into a strong 15-month-old boy, and his final return home from the hospital was celebrated with joyous festivities by the staff at St. Vincent Women’s Hospital in Indianapolis.
For a total of 460 days, Kendall had to undergo continuous medical supervision in the institution specializing in premature babies. His family spent more than a year there, and on the day of his discharge, March 16, almost all hospital workers paid their respects to the little warrior. Dr. Taha Ban Saad, the head of the premature birth unit, expressed, "This moment was truly indescribable. It's a huge gift for all of us!"
At birth, Kendall was so small that a nurse could carry him in the palm of their hand to the special incubator where he spent his first year of life. According to experts, his chances of survival were uncertain at that point, with Ben Saad predicting a 50-60% survival rate for the little one.
The then 41-year-old mother, Sparkle Jurnakins, recalled her fears that Kendall might not survive, especially due to his serious respiratory disease, which exposed him to various dangers.
Throughout the early stages of his life, Kendall underwent several life-saving surgeries. Tracheostomy was performed to assist his lung ventilation. Furthermore, the pandemic added to the risks, as the mother's health was also compromised by the viral infection and its complications.
"The virus almost took me away. I was in a coma from August to October," the mother recalled.
Thankfully, the challenging journey reached a turning point, and both the boy and his mother's health eventually stabilized, allowing them to return home at last.
"My sons said that this year they won't ask us to go to Disneyland on their birthdays because the biggest gift is that we can finally take the little one home," said the mother.
She added, "I couldn't believe we did it. I prayed and cried so much, but now I'm happy that we finally went home!"
