A first-time mother from Pennsylvania, who was initially told that her baby “wouldn’t make it” due to his extremely small size at birth, now celebrates his progress as he thrives at home after spending 181 days in the hospital.
Krysten Risbon, from Altoona, gave birth to her son Zaylan 16 weeks prematurely. Born with a hole in his heart and requiring constant oxygen, Zaylan defied the odds. Inspired by the exceptional care they received, Krysten is now studying to become a NICU nurse.
“When I first held him, he could fit in my bra,” said the 22-year-old mother. “Now, only his foot fits in.” She proudly describes her son as “a little fighter.”
Krysten and her partner, Janerio Reed, were ecstatic when they discovered they were expecting their first child in August 2022. However, their joy was soon overshadowed by fear when Krysten started bleeding at 23 weeks and six days, experiencing intense pain. At the hospital, they discovered she was 4cm dilated.
“They said, ‘You’re going to have this baby today… He’s probably not going to make it’,” Krysten recalled.
Rushed by helicopter to the specialized neonatal intensive care unit at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, Krysten faced the ordeal alone but remained hopeful. “It was scary because nobody could come with me. I just kept thinking everything was going to be ok.”
Doctors administered steroids to aid the baby’s lung development and managed to delay the birth for two more days. On December 23rd, Zaylan was born, weighing just 1 lb 6 oz. “He was so tiny he fit in the palm of my hand,” Krysten said.
In addition to his heart condition, Zaylan was born with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), an eye disease common in premature infants, and required surgery to improve his eyesight.
After months of intensive care, Zaylan finally came home on June 21, 2023. “It was unreal having him home, and pretty insane,” Krysten said. “I can’t believe how small he was.”
“He’s pretty funny now. He gives me the side eye. He smiles and laughs all the time. He’s a miracle.”
Krysten is set to embark on a new chapter this fall as she begins her studies to become a nurse at Mount Aloysius College. Her experiences with Zaylan’s premature birth and the remarkable care he received in the NICU have inspired her to pursue a career where she can provide the same level of dedication and support to other families facing similar challenges. She is drawing from her personal journey to offer empathy and expertise to the tiniest and most vulnerable patients.