Photo: Facebook
Early days: When the little boy was born (left), he was given just a five per cent chance of surviving. Kaleb (right) looking quite strong
Parents behind viral 'bun in the oven' video share hopes 'miracle baby' born at 23 weeks, weighing just 13 ounces will soon leave hospital
Dana Griffin-Graves and her husband Arkell Graves had suffered through four miscarriages and one stillbirth in their 17-year effort to become parents, eventually giving up on the idea. They later expanded their family by adopting a son, Keelyn, now 13.
Dana Griffin-Graves and her husband Arkell Graves had suffered through four miscarriages and one stillbirth in their 17-year effort to become parents, eventually giving up on the idea. They later expanded their family by adopting a son, Keelyn, now 13.
But then, in October last year, Dana
was shocked when she went to the doctor about some uncharacteristic
weight gain, only to discover that she was five-months pregnant.
Tough
kid: The parents who became famous online after their pregnancy
announcement video went viral are updating supports with news about
their 'miracle baby' Kaleb Arkell Graves at four months old
Happy
parents: Dana Griffin-Graves and her husband Arkell Graves had tried
to have a child for 17 years and suffered through four miscarriages and
a stillbirth before giving up on the idea
Instant
hit: The family, and particularly Arkell, became internet celebrities
after sharing the father's reaction to hearing the news his wife was
five months pregnant
To announce the news to her husband, Dana placed buns in the family's oven alongside an ultrasound image of their grown baby.
The video
she recorded of his emotion reaction - which included the father
bursting into sobs - was an instant hit online, and to date the clip has
been viewed over 10 million times. They also started a Facebook page
so fans could follow the progress of 'baby bun'.
Millions of people became enthralled by
the couple and their heartwarming story and followed closely when Dana
was told at 23 weeks pregnant that she her blood pressure had reached
near-fatal levels and she had to deliver immediately or she could die.
But determined to have her baby, Dana insisted on carrying as long as she possibly could.
'My blood pressure was 223/113 but I
couldn't [end the pregnancy],' she explained on Facebook. 'He was my
miracle, and I had to give him a fighting chance to make it.'
Big shock: The expectant mom surprised her husband with buns in the oven to announce the news
Fighting
for motherhood: Dana carried her son for as long as she could before,
at 23 weeks pregnant, she was forced to deliver because her high blood
pressure was risking her life
Photo: Facebook
Kaleb Arkell Graves eventually came
into the world on October 20, weighing a scant 13 ounces and was in
critical condition. Initially, doctors told the couple that the little
boy had just a five per cent chance of survival.
But the little fighter is now four
months old and weighs just about six pounds, though still in the
hospital recovering from issues caused by being born prematurely -
including a surgery to repair a hole in his heart and battling chronic
lung disease.
Dana explained to Buzzfeed: 'We are still struggling with his breathing.'
The little boy is currently on
noninvasive ventilator support, but the family is hopeful that they
will be bringing home their 'miracle baby' someday soon.
Smiles: Kaleb, dubbed by his parents 'baby bun' has over 150,000 fans on Facebook
Miniature miracle: When Kaleb was born on October 20, he weighed just a scant 13 ounces
Growing up: Kaleb has grown to just about six pounds as he continues to heal in the hospital
'It's just going to take time,' added mom.
Through the struggles, the whole family
has received a massive outpouring of support from all over the world -
from other inspiring stories about premature births to piles of gifts
in the mail.
The Facebook page, with over 150,000
followers, has also provided Dana with a community of helpful moms and
even medical experts to turn to for support and advice - she has even
been reading the messages to little Kaleb on doctors' orders.
She added that: 'It's thousands and thousands of messages so I will never run out.'
They all came from that famous video, which shows Arkell in the family's kitchen being asked by his wife to look in the oven.
Helping along: Suffering from chronic lung disease, Kaleb is currently on noninvasive ventilator support
Looking strong: Little Kaleb also recently had to have surgery to repair a hole in his heart
Day
by day: Dana has said that she 'will never run out' of supportive
messages to read to her son because there are 'thousands and thousands'
He is seen looking long and hard at the
scene that had been set inside, before whirling around to face his
wife with wide eyes. 'You're pregnant!' he exclaims, his face suddenly
spreading into a huge grin.
'That's why I couldn't lose weight,' Dana explains.
'You're pregnant!' the smiling dad-to-be exclaims again, this time swinging his arms in excitement.
And then, when she tells him how far
along she is - 19 weeks - his eyes widen and his jaw drops open; and
when she reveals the baby is due on February 16th, he lifts his arms
and says to his wife: 'come here'. But she isn't finished.
'And it's a boy.'
At that, Arkell loses his composure
entirely, bursting into tears, stumbling a few steps before lifting his
T-shirt over his face to cover several increasingly loud sobs.
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