Kendall Jurnakins received a triumphant cheer parade as he left the hospital to go home with his family. Kendall was born at 25 weeks, weighed only 15 ounces, and could fit in the palm of a hand. But after 460 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), baby Kendall was released by the hospital to head home with his family.
Kendall’s mother and father were overjoyed to finally take their precious child home. “I couldn’t believe it. I was just like, ‘Oh, my baby really made it,’” Kendall’s mother explained, “I prayed. I cried. I was happy. I was sad. I was everything but I was ready for my baby to come home.”
As a very premature baby, doctors estimated that Kendall had between a 50 and 60% chance of survival. At 25 weeks Kendall could have been aborted in states like California, New York, Colorado, and Illinois. Because of a baby’s fragility and incomplete development at 25 weeks, many abortion activists argue that there is no moral problem with “terminating” the child’s life at 25 weeks.
Yet, Kendall defied the odds and now a healthy and growing 1-year-old he is heading home. As Kendall and his parents exited the hospital, staff lined their path and surrounded them with joyful cheers and applause.
It was a joyous and emotional day for everyone. Kendall’s older brother was also overcome with happiness. “This is my gift, the best gift ever, to get him home,” Kendall’s big brother said.
The road did not always seem bright or hopeful for Kendall and his family. “I just was scared my baby wasn’t gonna make it,” Kendall’s mother admitted. Though things sometimes looked bleak, Kendall and his family persisted all the way through, fighting for Kendall’s life.
Kendall’s story gives a beautiful testimony of the precious and inestimable value of human Life, even Life as early as 25 weeks in the womb.