Dinwiddie, Va. (WRIC) — For nearly two months, millions of people have followed the story of “Baby Buns.”
Little Kaleb Graves was born 17 weeks early to a Dinwiddie couple.
“Kaleb, he is doing fantastic,” says his mom Dana Griffin-Graves.
8News has the exclusive first photos of the infant who turns one-month-old on Friday.
“If someone would have told me six weeks ago when I was laying in the hospital bed and I was in the ICU department, that I would be here today, I wouldn’t believe it,” adds Dana.
Dana Griffin-Graves delivered Kaleb 17 weeks early after doctors said her blood pressure was dangerously high and could kill her. Kaleb came into the world weighing just 13 ounces. He’s now at one-pound five ounces.
We first met Dana and her husband when the couple’s baby announcement video went viral. After 17 years of trying, Dana recorded the moment when Arkell learned they were going to have a baby.
“Baby Buns” as he’s affectionately known, wasn’t due until mid-February. His premature birth was scary but mom and dad still feel blessed.
“God is good. He’s a miracle. Kaleb is a miracle,” insists Arkell.
Arkell Graves spends mornings at the hospital with Kaleb. Dana is there afternoons and evenings.She reads to her son for hours, mostly from the thousands of encouraging posts and prayers left by their Facebook followers.
“It’s just amazing to know that we have so many people in our corner, so many people that have gone through the same thing and it’s just because of God’s grace,” adds Dana.
Arkell feels the same way.
“I’m very humbled to the fact that so many people are praying for us and the prayers are actually working. We can actually feel them. They’re amazing,” he says.
The couple asks that people continue to pray for them because they have a long journey ahead.
