In an inspiring story of resilience, a couple from Port Charlotte, Florida, is celebrating the birth of their son, who arrived during the chaos of Hurricane Milton.
Kenzie Lewellen and her boyfriend, Dewey Bennett, welcomed their healthy baby boy, Dewey Lester Bennett IV, at 11:45 p.m. on Wednesday, just hours after the storm made landfall.
As Hurricane Milton unleashed strong winds and heavy rains, Kenzie, 22, went into labour around 4 a.m. “My mind was racing with thoughts of what to do,” she recalled.
Dewey, 24, shared his own anxieties, reflecting on the tragic loss of his father during Hurricane Irma in 2017.
“I didn’t want to go through that again,” he said, remembering how the emergency services had been unable to reach them during that storm.
Before labor began, the couple’s home started taking on water. Knowing the roads would likely flood, they decided to make their way to Sarasota Memorial Hospital.
“It was extremely windy, and the roads were mostly empty, but we were careful,” Kenzie said. Once at the hospital, Kenzie faced the emotional challenge of saying goodbye to her mother, who could not accompany her inside due to hospital restrictions.
In the delivery room, she had a front-row seat to the storm’s fury, noting how trees outside were uprooted.
After hours of labor, the doctor informed her that a cesarean section would be necessary. “I was scared, but the doctors and nurses were incredible,” she said, grateful for their support.
Hurricane Milton, which made landfall at 8:30 p.m., caused significant damage, leaving millions without power.
Despite the storm’s destruction, Kenzie and Dewey are calling their son a “miracle baby.”
“It’s indescribable,” Kenzie expressed, holding her son. Dewey added with a smile, “My cheeks hurt from smiling so much.”
As they adjust to life with their new arrival, the couple is filled with hope, even jokingly considering “Milton” as a potential nickname for their little one.
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