A woman gave birth to a “miracle baby” during Hurricane Milton after a dangerous trip to the hospital during labor.
Kenzie Lewellen, who was 39 weeks pregnant, witnessed the destruction from her hospital window as a tree was torn out of the ground. huge storm he was pounding Florida earlier this week.
She also needed a cesarean section because the boy was in the wrong position. “I was very scared,” said the first-time mother.
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Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm around 8.30pm local time on Wednesday (1.30am UK time on Thursday), causing massive flooding and leaving millions without power.
At least 16 people were confirmed dead in Florida in the hurricane's aftermath, including at least five from the tornado in St. Lucie County.
Ms Lewellen went into labor at home in Port Charlotte at 4am on Wednesday, according to Sky's US network affiliate, NBC News.
At that time, the storm had not yet hit the state, but the home of Ms. Lewellen and her boyfriend, Dewey Bennett, began taking on water before she began to experience contractions.
“My mind was racing a million miles an hour, wondering what should I do?” – said a 22-year-old woman. “I was very nervous.”
Then, after more than four hours of labor at home, the couple went to Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Venice.
“My mother drove us. It was very windy, so we tried to be as careful as possible,” Lewellen said.
“There weren't many people on the roads because it was very windy outside and it was raining a lot.”
Dewey Bennett with his son Dewey Lester Bennett IV. Photo: Kenzie Lewellen
The couple was even more upset during a medical emergency when Bennett's father, also named Dewey, died in 2017 as Hurricane Irma hit Florida.
“My dad had a massive heart attack because the ambulance couldn't come to us during the storm,” said the 24-year-old.
“I just didn't want to go through the same thing I had to go through during the last hurricane in 2017.” – added Bennett.
Watching a tree being uprooted during childbirth
When the three of them got to the hospital, only one person could be with them. So Mrs. Lewellen had to say goodbye to her mother.
“I was very, very sad that my mom couldn't stay because she's my best friend and one of my biggest supporters,” she said. But “we were able to FaceTime pretty much all the time.”
Kenzie Lewellen and Dewey Bennett. Photo: Kenzie Lewellen
She then underwent labor in a room overlooking the devastation in the area.
“I was telling him (Mr. Bennett), 'Oh, that tree looks like it's going to fall out of the ground!' while I was working because we just watched the storm, wind and rain rage. It was definitely intense outside,” she said.
“And there was indeed an uprooting,” added Bennett, the child's father.
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Florida avoided the worst of the hurricane
Unplanned caesarean section
After many hours of labor, Mrs. Lewellen received disturbing news. The baby was in the wrong position and an unplanned cesarean section would be necessary.
“I had a lot of thoughts about the storm and my family at that moment,” she said.
Problems with the epidural left her in extreme pain for hours until she was given an epidural.
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“I was alone and I was very afraid. If I didn't have doctors and nurses, it would be much worse,” she said.
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Dewey Lester Bennett IV was delivered safely at 11:45 p.m., weighing 8 pounds.
“He's a wonderful baby,” Mrs. Lewellen said.
In a statement, Sarasota Memorial Health Care System CEO David Verinder said, “We couldn't be more proud of our team. They have left their homes and many have left their families to be here for our patients and community.”
In addition to Dewey, six other babies were born at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Milton, Verinder said.
