Caspian Kerley is a tenacious little fighter. From a 1-pound baby who had slim odds of surviving — to a 1-year-old who is now thriving, Caspian just might be proof that miracles can happen inside the tiny baby unit at Norton Children’s Hospital.
Caspian’s mom, Shadow, experienced a journey to motherhood that was filled with shock and heartbreak. Pregnant with twins, she went into labor unexpectedly at just 23 weeks.
“As new parents we were terrified of what was to come,” she said.
The family from Metropolis, Illinois, was rushed four hours away to Norton Hospital in downtown Louisville, where Shadow gave birth to twin boys on July 9, 2024. Caspian and his twin brother Killian were born weighing just over 1 pound each.
According to statistics, babies are not considered viable until after 24 weeks gestation. For neonates born before 24 weeks, like Caspian and Killian, the chance of survival is less than 50%.
Despite the efforts of the care team, tragically Killian passed away after 12 hours. From his very first moments, Caspian continued to fight for his life.
“Caspian was resuscitated multiple times in the delivery room and had a chest tube placed,” Shadow said. “Our sweet boy faced so many obstacles in his first months of life. It was so terrifying.”
Caspian’s earliest days were filled with one challenge after another. He battled chronic lung disease, brain bleeds resulting in hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain), necrotizing enterocolitis (an intestinal disease mostly affecting premature infants) that required three abdominal surgeries, sepsis (a blood infection) and several other serious illnesses.
“Every night I went to bed praying he would just make it through the night,” Shadow said. “Then, one day I stopped worrying if he would make it through the night. He got better, bigger and started thriving.”
Caspian spent 162 days in the Norton Children’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where Shadow said the family was surrounded by a care team who helped them navigate every obstacle.
“I can’t tell you how many doctors, nurses, and [respiratory therapists] that we met,” she said. But I can tell you what an incredible impact these people had. They saved my baby’s life.”
During Caspian’s 5.5-month stay in the NICU, the team became more than just medical professionals; they became family.
“They were our friends on the worst days. They held us while we cried. They put my 1-pound baby in my arms on his fifth day of life so I could feel like a mom,” Shadow said.
The family also appreciated how the NICU team balanced honesty with compassion.
“They were honest and never told us just what we wanted to hear, but still prepared us for the worst in the best ways they could.”
According to Shadow, among the many care team members who made a difference in Caspian’s life were:
- David S. Foley, M.D., pediatric general surgeon with Norton Children’s Surgery
- Hannah R. Fischer, M.D.; and Caroline N. Jackson, M.D.; neonatologists with Norton Children’s Neonatology
- Mallory Bartram, PA-C,, physician assistant with Norton Children’s Neonatology
- Lela A. Baker, DNP, APRN, nurse practitioner with Norton Children’s Neonatology
- Mackenzie Kerns, R.N.; and Morgan Martin, R.N., NICU nurses at Norton Children’s Hospital
Today, Caspian is a growing 1-year-old with big, curious blue eyes and an infectious smile. He attends regular preventive therapy due to a risk of cerebral palsy. Looking back on their NICU journey, the Kerley family is filled with gratitude for the care team who helped their tiny baby — who had the odds stacked against his very survival.
“Today, Caspian is living a mostly normal life,” Shadow said. “We are so grateful to everyone at Norton who saved his life. I could not have chosen a better team for our little guy.”