April had waited a long time to become a mother. Now living in Lebanon, TN, she and her husband chose to name their daughter Knoxley — a nod to their roots in East Tennessee.
April eagerly anticipated the day she would meet her baby. But when she went into labor at 32 weeks, anticipation turned to urgency.
“When I went into my appointment, I sent my husband home because I knew it would take a while,” she said. A short time later, she called him back. Their daughter would be born that day.
On Jan. 15 at 9:08 a.m., April delivered her daughter by emergency C-section. Knoxley weighed 4 pounds, 2 ounces, 21 inches long — tiny, but strong.
“She was long awaited,” April said. “We were so ready for her.”
Even in the intensity of an emergency delivery, April remembers the calm.
“From the time she was born, they were explaining what they were doing and introducing themselves,” she said. “That meant everything.”
Her care team, including Dr. Logan Williams, Dr. Holly Bathen and the obstetric operating room nurses, guided the family through each step. The anesthesiologist even paused to take photos, capturing the first moments of a story they had waited so long to begin.
Because Knoxley arrived early, she was admitted to the NICU, where she has spent four weeks growing stronger. For April and her husband, the NICU became a place of both worry and hope.
“It has been so nice to be able to see her,” April shared.
Knoxley’s dad visits daily at 5 a.m., a quiet ritual of love and commitment.
Inside the NICU, the family found encouragement alongside expert care.
“All the NICU nurses have been awesome,” April said. “They’ve been so sweet and helped us through this whole journey.”
From careful feedings to late-night reassurance, the team supported Knoxley as she worked toward milestones. Recently, she joined what the nurses call the “5-Pound Club.” Now off her feeding tube, she continues to gain strength every day.
“She’s getting stronger,” April said with a smile. “And we’re just so grateful.”
From East Tennessee roots to NICU milestones, Knoxley’s story is one of strength and the extraordinary care that carries families through their most vulnerable moments.