Sarah Ray

Read our story, which was published my March of Dimes in November 2023 to learn more about why this mission means so much to us. 💜 

“The Ray triplets, Emma, Lucas and Oliver, were born preterm at 29 weeks, each weighing 1-2 pounds. When they found out that they were having triplets, they learned that preterm birth was likely and "it wasn’t a matter of if we’d have a NICU stay but how long our stay would be," Sarah said. "No one goes into growing their family expecting triplets, or medical complications or premature births. No one feels 'cut out' for a NICU stay."

Premature babies stay in the NICU until their organs develop enough to stay alive without medical support. Some babies, like the Ray triplets, need NICU care for weeks or months until they can breathe on their own, eat by mouth and maintain their body temperature and body weight.

The Ray family spent 104 days in the NICU. "Those months were spent with our ears ringing from alarms, brains swimming with information from tests and procedures, clutching our phones at all times waiting for a call from the doctors," Sarah said.

Now that all three babies are home, Sarah and Chris say they continue to thrive and can’t wait to see how they continue to grow each month. On November 26, the triplets will celebrate turning 10 months old. "I will never be able to express how much gratitude we have for the doctors, nurses, therapists, child life specialists, the technology, the research, every single moving piece that allowed us to bring our babies home," Sarah said.

March of Dimes' NICU Family Support® program provides information, comfort and support to families, like the Ray's, during NICU stays. This #PrematurityAwarenessMonth, share your story tagging @marchofdimes, or join a supportive space and connect with others and offer support to families with similar experiences: https://www.facebook.com/groups/marchofdimes/

📷 @3babyrays on Instagram”