Meet this year's kids
Hunter Scott Zoeller, Age 2
Preemie, collapsed lung
Hunter Scott Zoeller was born at 33 weeks gestation, somewhat premature, but he weighed 4-pounds 11-ounces, already had a shock of red hair and came in “screaming and kicking like a frog,” recalls his mother, Christina.
Any reassurance that his healthy scream meant he was out of the woods was short lived. Within moments, Hunter’s lungs collapsed and Christina’s screaming newborn son began gasping for air, close to death.
“The doctor said if we were religious he would go ahead and call the chaplain on duty for us to have peace of mind,” Christina recalled, recoiling at the notion of giving last rites to a child who had just entered the world.
Hunter was rushed to CHKD’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and placed on oxygen, but Christina was told Hunter might not survive the night.
“I was scared to death,” Christina said. “It kind of hit me, like, I might not be bringing my child home. Ever.”
Hunter fought for his life for two months, with the help of a phalanx of neonatologists, respiratory therapists, specialists and neonatal nurses. By the ninth week, Hunter had emerged from his tailspin and was well enough to “graduate” from the NICU and go home to Moyock.
Today, Hunter is 2, as red-haired and rambunctious as the screaming, kicking infant that came into the world.
“We can’t thank CHKD enough,” Christina said. “Without CHKD, Hunter wouldn’t be here today.”
