The Miracle of Malachi: A Premature Baby’s Inspiring Journey of Survival

Mattie Davis Holding Baby Malachi | Neonatal Intensive Care Unit | INTEGRIS Health Baptist Medical Center

A Christmas That Changed Everything

December 26th, 2024, began like any other day for Mattie and Joshua Davis. The glow of Christmas still lingered in their Oklahoma home, and the young couple was filled with anticipation, dreaming about the arrival of their baby in the coming months. But by the afternoon, everything changed.

Mattie was rushed to the hospital after going into premature labor. Less than 24 hours later, their son, Malachi, was born at just 22 weeks gestation, weighing barely over a pound. He was impossibly small, his life hanging by a thread.

The Fight for Life in the NICU

Mattie held him for only a moment, his tiny body fitting into the palm of her hand before he was whisked away to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). A team of specialized caregivers surrounded him, working tirelessly to give him a fighting chance at survival.

For the first eight days, Malachi held on. But on day nine, his condition took a devastating turn. Doctors gathered the Davis family and gently prepared them for the worst. The survival odds for a baby born at 22 weeks gestation are heartbreakingly slim, with most medical literature citing survival rates below 10 percent.

"Seeing how many wires and tubes were keeping him alive, and how tiny he was — it just didn't feel real," Mattie recalled, describing the overwhelming experience of watching her premature newborn fight for every breath.

The Darkest Hour

In the weeks that followed, Malachi's health remained unstable, but on day 28, it took a sharp decline. The hospital called the Davis family throughout the night with updates, each one more urgent than the last. By 6:00 a.m., the final call came. The young couple raced to the hospital, bracing themselves to say goodbye.

As Mattie held her son for only the second time, her heart broke with the fear it might be the last time she would cradle him in her arms.

But then, something changed.

A Turn Toward Hope

Against all odds, Malachi's condition began to improve the next day. Slowly, steadily, he began to grow stronger. Each milestone — breathing improvements, weight gain, reduced oxygen support — brought renewed hope to his exhausted but grateful parents.

And with time, Mattie and Joshua were finally able to hold their son not just in fear, but in love.

The Power of Kangaroo Care

Thanks to donor-funded kangaroo chairs in every NICU room at INTEGRIS Health Baptist Medical Center, Malachi's parents could cradle him with skin-to-skin contact. This simple act — scientifically proven to regulate a premature baby's body temperature, heart rate, and breathing — helped them bond and helped Malachi heal.

Kangaroo care, a method where parents hold their premature or low-birth-weight infant against their bare chest, has been shown in numerous medical studies to improve outcomes for NICU babies. The practice promotes bonding, reduces stress for both infant and parents, and can even shorten hospital stays.

Because of donors who support the INTEGRIS Health Foundation, Mattie and Joshua no longer had to look through the glass of an isolette crib to connect with their son. They could hold him, comfort him, and be part of his journey toward health.

The Role of Community Support

Malachi's survival story highlights the critical importance of donor-funded medical equipment and resources in neonatal care. The specialized kangaroo chairs, advanced NICU technology, and trained medical staff that gave Malachi his fighting chance exist because of community support.

Your support of the INTEGRIS Health Foundation made this possible. You helped provide the equipment and care that gave Malachi a fighting chance, and his parents the gift of hope during their darkest hours.

A Message of Hope for Families

For families facing premature birth or NICU stays, Malachi's story offers profound hope. While every case is unique and outcomes vary, advances in neonatal care continue to improve survival rates for extremely premature infants.

The Davis family's journey reminds us that behind every statistic is a family, a story, and a miracle waiting to unfold.

Your Support Matters

You are invited to partner with the INTEGRIS Health Foundation to make a meaningful difference in the lives of real patients at INTEGRIS Health. Whether you have a heart for infants and families in the NICU or you want to support another area of care, your gift today is immediately put to work for good.

Story by Zoee Zuerker