From 23 Weeks to a First Birthday: Hezekiah’s Remarkable Journey

Born at 23 weeks and weighing just over a pound, Hezekiah Schleikorn spent 114 days in the NICU. Now home and thriving, he and his family are preparing to celebrate his first birthday.

An Unexpected Arrival at 23 Weeks

On October 24, 2025, Acamy Schleikorn drove herself to the hospital, unaware that she was in active preterm labor. Her labor progressed too quickly for nurses to stop it, and Hezekiah was born about an hour after she arrived.

"It was very traumatic," she said. "They took him right away, and I remember asking if he was OK as soon as he was born."

At just 23 weeks and weighing slightly more than a pound, Hezekiah entered the world months before his due date. Doctors told Acamy that babies born at that stage have only a 30-40% chance of surviving.

"It wasn't what I wanted to hear in that moment, but I knew he was in very good hands," said Acamy.

A Tiny Fighter in the NICU

For the first 10 days after Hezekiah's birth, Acamy had to wait to hold her son. "That was a long 10 days," she said.

"He had significant respiratory issues early on, which is typical for a baby born at 23 weeks," said Jamie Powers, M.D., neonatologist at Pediatrix® Neonatology of Nevada.

Hezekiah needed extensive breathing support and medications to help his lungs grow and develop. He remained on a breathing tube for an extended period, and also faced several concerns about possible infections.

"He was a feisty little guy from the beginning, which is a good thing. The babies who are strong and keep fighting tend to do really well," said Dr. Powers. "At times, it can be challenging to keep them calm and quiet so they can grow and develop, especially when they are trying to pull out their tubes and other equipment."

Over 114 days in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Southern Hills Hospital and Medical Center in Las Vegas, Hezekiah worked hard to grow and overcome each health challenge under the care of the Pediatrix team.

His parents were beside him throughout the journey, participating in his care and spending time holding him skin to skin.

"Mom and dad were incredible. They were there nearly every day and spent a lot of time holding him skin to skin, which played a huge role in how well he did," said Dr. Powers. "We know babies tend to thrive when their parents are actively involved in their care."

Making the Holidays Special

Hezekiah spent his first Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas in the NICU. Although celebrating away from home was difficult for the family, the staff helped make each holiday memorable.

"The nurses made it special by taking such cute pictures of him, which meant a lot to me," said Acamy. "I tried to be there every day, but when we got sick, we couldn't visit for two weeks."

During that time apart, the NICU's AngelEye platform and bedside cameras gave the family a way to see Hezekiah remotely every day.

"That was definitely helpful," said Acamy. "At night, I would pull up his camera alongside the baby monitor in the other kids' room, so it felt like they were all together."

Home Before His Due Date

After four months in the NICU, Hezekiah went home in February – before his due date. Remarkably, he needed only multivitamins with iron, with no other medications, and his head ultrasound was completely normal.

"For a baby born so prematurely, his course was relatively uneventful," said Dr. Powers. "He followed the textbook and made things a little easier for us."

Looking back, Acamy is grateful for the care Hezekiah received and for how well he has done, knowing that not every micropreemie follows the same path.

"I read many birth stories about babies born at 23 weeks, and compared with what many other families experienced, his NICU stay was smoother than most, which was a blessing."

Today, Hezekiah weighs around 18 pounds and continues to meet his developmental milestones. As his family prepares to celebrate his first birthday, he is beginning to eat solid foods, rolling everywhere, army crawling and sitting on his own – giving them much to celebrate.

"He is an extraordinary little boy," said Dr. Powers. "Looking at him now, you would never know he was born prematurely."

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