As Hurricane Milton barreled toward Florida’s Gulf Coast, Kenzie Lewellen and Dewey Bennett were in the midst of their own storm—a race against time to bring their first child into the world. The 22-year-old mom-to-be went into labor at 4 a.m., just hours before the powerful storm made landfall, transforming a moment of joy into one of incredible tension.
“I was very nervous,” Lewellen shared. “My mind was racing, wondering how we were going to make it to the hospital with everything going on.”
Their journey to Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Venice was no ordinary drive. As the storm raged, with strong winds and heavy rain flooding the streets, the couple and Lewellen’s mother cautiously made their way to the hospital. Once there, only Bennett could accompany her inside, leaving Lewellen to FaceTime with her mother during labor.
Hurricane Milton’s devastation could be seen through the hospital windows as Lewellen endured a prolonged and painful labor. Despite the storm’s destruction outside, their focus remained on their baby. But there was another challenge ahead—after hours of labor, the couple was informed that their baby was in the wrong position, requiring an emergency C-section.
“I had so much going through my head—my family, the storm, and now this,” Lewellen recalled. “But the hospital staff was incredible. They made all the difference.”
At 11:45 p.m., after hours of pain and uncertainty, the couple welcomed a healthy baby boy, Dewey Lester Bennett IV, weighing 8 pounds. His arrival amidst a hurricane, in a room surrounded by storm damage, felt nothing short of a miracle.
“It’s an indescribable feeling,” Lewellen said, holding her son for the first time. “He’s a part of me, and a part of the person I love. He truly is a miracle.”
Bennett, smiling ear to ear, added: “I haven’t stopped smiling since he was born. It’s been incredible.”
The new parents aren’t the only ones who welcomed a baby during Hurricane Milton. Six other babies were born at Sarasota Memorial Hospital during the storm. David Verinder, CEO of Sarasota Memorial Health Care System, praised the hospital staff for their dedication, many of whom left their own families to ensure patients were safe and cared for.
Reflecting on his son’s birth, Bennett couldn’t help but think of his father, who passed away during Hurricane Irma in 2017. Holding baby Dewey in his arms brought a mix of emotions, as the family found hope and joy amidst the chaos of the storm.
Years from now, little Dewey will hear the incredible story of his birth, and how, despite the winds and rain of Hurricane Milton, he made his way into the world—a true beacon of hope in the storm.
Read more:
Thousands Of Minnesota Seniors Caught In Medicare Network Disruption
Study Highlights Health Disparities Between US And UK Adults
Vance Echoes Kennedy’s Health Message In Michigan
