While evacuating Irma, Cape Coral couple unexpectedly gives birth to baby boy

While Hurricane Irma was inching closer and closer to southwest Florida last year, the Krastel family decided evacuating to Boston where Keri Krastel’s family lives was the best decision for them.

“She’s (Keri) like, ‘it’s (Hurricane Irma) coming right for us,” said Keri’s husband Tommy Krastel. “So we packed at 5 p.m. on Thursday, got into the car, left at 8 p.m.”

But what happened next was something the Krastel family was not prepared for.

“Upon arrival in Boston, my water broke at 22 weeks, which is far too early,” Keri said.

Keri and Tommy rushed to the hospital where doctors told them they didn’t think their baby, Kevin, would survive the premature birth.

“They told us that our road was over, and we needed to say goodbye,” Keri said.

The family found another alternative at Beth Israel Medical Center in Boston. Keri decided to keep her baby in utero for a few more weeks.

“We were going to fight for Kevin, as long as he was going to fight for us,” Keri said.

Baby Kevin was born in late October at 28 weeks, only weighing 3 pounds.

After 94 days in the neonatal intensive care unit at Beth Israel Medical Center, Kevin was deemed strong enough to make his way home to Cape Coral.

“It’s exciting to be home in Florida, to be together as a family under the same roof,” Keri said.

A year later, Kevin now weighs about 30 pounds. He was just recently taken off his oxygen full time, but still needs check-ups every three months.

“He (Kevin) sees a total of five specialists in southwest Florida,” Keri said.

Keri says she is thankful that they will be able to spend this Thanksgiving home as a family.

“We’re thankful this little guy is here, and thriving and we get to be a family again,” Keri said.

Keri doesn’t know why her water broke five months early, but doctors say it could have been the drop in barometric pressure from Hurricane Irma, or the stress from the quick evacuation of her family.

To learn more about the Krastel family and Kevin’s journey, click here.