A Life That Began Against All Odds

On November 14, 2017, a miracle entered the world—quietly, delicately, and against every medical expectation.

Her name was Kaylin May.

She was born at just 22 weeks and six days gestation, so early that survival itself seemed nearly impossible. Kaylin weighed only 12.8 ounces, small enough to fit in the palm of a hand. Her skin was translucent. Her lungs were barely formed. Her body was not ready for the world.

But she arrived breathing.

That first fragile breath was a victory.
That tiny heartbeat was an act of defiance.

From the very beginning, Kaylin showed the world that life—even at its most fragile—can be astonishingly resilient.

Loss Before Life: The Twin She Never Met

Kaylin’s journey began not only with hope, but with heartbreak.

At 16 weeks gestation, her family lost her twin brother. A rare genetic condition—triploidy with a partial molar placenta—took his life before birth. The grief was overwhelming.

Medical statistics were unforgiving.

The chances of Kaylin surviving alone, under those circumstances, were less than one percent.

And yet, she stayed.

She fought.

She held on.

From the very start, Kaylin was extraordinary.

The NICU: Where Her Battle Truly Began

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) became Kaylin’s world—and her battlefield.

For 130 long days, she lived surrounded by machines, monitors, and tubes. Her body, barely the size of a soda can, endured interventions that would challenge even the strongest adults.

Her lungs were dangerously underdeveloped.
Her immune system was fragile.
Every hour was uncertain.

Yet every day she survived was a miracle.

Doctors watched closely. Nurses cared relentlessly. Her parents stood by her side, exhausted but unwavering, whispering encouragement into ears no bigger than a fingertip.

Small Body, Unimaginable Strength

Despite her extreme prematurity, Kaylin defied expectation after expectation.

She experienced no brain bleeds.
No life-threatening infections.
No gastrointestinal or severe skin complications.

Still, her challenges were immense.

She spent 45 days on a ventilator, relying on machines to breathe. Steroids were used to strengthen her lungs. Blood transfusions became routine—12 transfusions in her first month alone.

Each one was a reminder of how delicate her life was.

And still, she kept fighting.

The day Kaylin took her first breath on her own was unforgettable. It wasn’t just air filling her lungs—it was triumph filling the room.

Protecting Her Future, One Organ at a Time

Kaylin’s tiny eyes required special care. She received Avastin injections to protect her vision from retinopathy of prematurity. Today, her eyesight remains strong—a miracle all its own.

Her heart also faced challenges.

A patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closed after just one round of Tylenol.
An atrial septal defect (ASD) closed naturally on its own.

Each small victory felt enormous.

Every ounce gained.
Every successful feeding.
Every moment of alertness.

In the NICU, life was measured in tiny wins—and each one mattered.

Coming Home: A Milestone Beyond Measure

After 130 days, the moment her family had prayed for finally arrived.

Kaylin went home.

She was discharged 10 days after her original due date, leaving the NICU not just alive—but thriving.

That journey home was more than a discharge.

It was proof that hope, love, and persistence can carry a family through the impossible.

Nearly Seven Years Later: A Thriving Miracle

Today, nearly seven years later, Kaylin May is almost unrecognizable from the fragile infant she once was.

She is vibrant.
Playful.
Smart.
Full of personality.

Her laughter fills rooms. Her curiosity shines. Her joy is contagious.

Few would ever guess that this confident, energetic child once weighed less than a can of soda.

Her life is more than survival—it is a story of resilience, courage, and faith.

Carrying Her Twin’s Memory Forward

Kaylin’s survival is made even more profound by the loss of her twin brother.

She does not replace him.

She honors him.

He lives on in her story, in her strength, and in every breath she takes. Her family sees her not as a substitute, but as a reminder of how precious and miraculous life can be.

Turning Pain Into Purpose

Writing Kaylin’s story—and later turning it into a children’s book—became a path toward healing for her family.

It was a way to honor both loss and survival.
A way to reach parents facing terrifying NICU journeys.
A way to remind others that miracles, though rare, are possible.

Kaylin’s story offers hope to families standing beside incubators, waiting and praying.

A Living Symbol of Hope

Kaylin May’s life proves that:

• Courage does not depend on size

• Strength can live in the smallest bodies

• Love, care, and faith can defy even the harshest odds

Her tiny body endured what most adults never could—and she emerged not only alive, but thriving.

From 12.8 ounces to seven years old, Kaylin embodies hope.

She is not just a survivor.

She is a symbol.
A light.
A reminder that even the most fragile beginnings can lead to extraordinary lives.

And as she continues to grow, her story will keep inspiring families around the world—especially those still waiting in the NICU, searching for proof that miracles can happen.

Because Kaylin May is living proof that sometimes, against every statistic, life wins.