Adah, Stetson and Caroline’s Story

When Rebekah learned she was expecting triplets, she was overwhelmed with both joy and fear. At just 31 weeks and 6 days, Caroline, Adah and Stetson made their early entrance into the world – tiny, fragile and in need of critical care. Caroline weighed 3 pounds, 4 ounces, while Adah and Stetson each weighed 2 pounds, 11 ounces.

“I couldn’t even hold them at first. But from the moment they were born, the team at Niswonger Children’s Hospital made sure they were safe and loved,” Rebekah said.

The triplets spent a combined 126 days in the NICU – Caroline for 35 days, Adah for 40, and Stetson, who needed oxygen at home after discharge, for 51. For almost two months, Rebekah and her family stayed at the Ronald McDonald House, separated from their North Carolina home.

“We made friends and we felt safe, we had support, and most importantly, we trusted the nurses who became like family.”

“It was the hardest time of our lives,” Rebekah said. “But we made friends and we felt safe, we had support, and most importantly, we trusted the nurses who became like family.”

Rebekah remembers Bailey, who cared for the babies their very first night, and Mackenzie, a day-shift nurse who became a steady presence throughout their NICU journey.

Now 2 years old, the triplets are thriving.

“Sometimes I just watch them play and I can’t believe it,” Rebekah shared, smiling. “After all we went through, I still look at them and think, ‘Wow, there are really three!’”

Want to learn more about Niswonger Children’s Network?

The Niswonger Children’s Network is dedicated to improving the health and future of the Appalachian Highlands through expert pediatric care so that we can share more heartwarming stories like Adah, Stetson, and Caroline's. Read more about the Niswonger Children's Network.

Read more Niswonger Children’s Stories here.