Supported. Connected. Strong.
Weston entered the world on October 3, 2025, to his mom, Cam, and dad, Jim. He was born at 26 weeks gestation (14 weeks early) and started proving he was stronger than anyone could imagine. His arrival marked his family’s second Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) journey, a place no parent hopes to return to, yet one that once again surrounded them with compassion, resilience, and unexpected moments of joy. After weeks of courage and milestones, Weston went home on Christmas Eve, the most meaningful gift his family could have received.
One of the most impactful parts of Weston’s journey was his Bead Story, a tactile memory that tells the story of every hurdle, milestone, and victory. The beads represent moments in his story, reminders of strength, growth, love, and both medical and personal milestones. The most cherished bead on the strand is the sibling bead, marking the first time Weston met his big brother, Mac, a moment his family will never forget. Special beads from his primary nurses, Lexie and Lindsey, hold a place of honor too, symbols of the deep bonds formed with the caregivers who stood beside them every step of the way. In truth, his family says every member of the NICU team deserves recognition for the compassion they showed.
During their stay, moments of celebration became silver linings. Through Carilion’s Family Advisory Board (FAB) programs, Weston’s family found light in the hardest days. They shared their story and experiences during in-person peer support, dressed Weston in Halloween costumes (hand made by the FAB) as both a tiny turtle and a jack-o’-lantern, and captured treasured Santa photos. One afternoon, Cam came to the NICU conference room to participate in a FAB stocking-decorating event, a simple activity that brought warmth and normalcy into a season otherwise filled with monitors, waiting, and uncertainty. These experiences didn’t change the medical journey, but they changed how it felt. They brought joy into an intense chapter and helped his parents feel more connected, more hopeful, and more like themselves.
For Weston’s family, the NICU community became something unexpected, a circle of people who truly understood. As Cam says, “It’s not the club you want to be in, but once you are, you’re family.” The support they received after their first NICU stay inspired them to give back and volunteer, wanting other families to feel the same sense of support and belonging that carried them through. She later completed training to become a Family Advisory Board member.
Today, Cam shares that Weston is thriving. He’s growing quickly and filling his home with the joy his family dreamed of during those long NICU days, a testament to the care, support, and love that the NICU provides.
To learn more about the Family Advisory Board visit here: https://www.carilionclinic.org/carilion-childrens-family-advisory-board#about-us
Photo shared with Parent Consent.
