Fighting for Every Breath: Baylor and Zoey’s Journey 💙💗.902
Life with newborns is always unpredictable, but for Zach and Alyson Blythe of Oneonta, Alabama, their journey has been marked by both miraculous victories and devastating setbacks. Their twins, Baylor and Zoey, have been fighting since the moment they entered the world in mid-December.
Born far too early, the babies were fragile and tiny. Baylor weighed only 1 lb, 15 oz, while Zoey was even smaller at 1 lb, 8 oz. From their very first breaths, both children faced medical battles most adults will never know. Baylor struggled with digestive issues, and Zoey required a shunt inserted into her brain to help relieve pressure.
The weeks that followed were filled with anxious days and sleepless nights, as Zach and Alyson kept vigil by their children’s sides in the NICU at Children’s of Alabama. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months. Each ounce gained, each stable heartbeat, felt like a victory. Their prayers, their tears, and the tireless work of doctors and nurses eventually gave way to a moment they had dreamed about for so long: bringing their babies home.
About a month ago, that dream became reality. For the first time, the Blythe family experienced the joy of all being under one roof, free of hospital walls and constant beeping monitors. They were finally able to enjoy some “normal” moments—holding their babies in the quiet of their home, celebrating milestones, and looking ahead to their upcoming six-month birthday.
But just when things seemed to be looking up, everything changed again.
On June 5th, Baylor was admitted back to Children’s due to dangerously low oxygen levels. Though she was released just two days later, tragedy nearly struck as soon as they arrived home. When Alyson lifted Baylor from the car seat, she found her daughter completely blue and limp. In that terrifying moment, Alyson ran to Zach, who immediately began CPR while they waited for paramedics.
Baylor was rushed back to the hospital and admitted once again. This time, the diagnoses came like a flood: strep A blood infection, rhinovirus, enterovirus, bronchiolitis, possible pneumonia, and possible meningitis. To make matters worse, doctors could not rule out necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a dangerous intestinal disease that preemies are especially vulnerable to. She was placed on antibiotics, bowel rest, and further tests were ordered, including a lumbar puncture to confirm meningitis.
As if the family hadn’t already endured enough, Alyson shared an update on Monday morning that Zoey, too, had to be admitted to Children’s. She was experiencing oxygen desaturations and, like her sister, was found to have rhinovirus and enterovirus. For parents who had just begun to breathe easier, the nightmare returned in full force.
Through it all, Zach and Alyson have continued to cling to faith and hope. They have shared their story openly, not for pity, but to remind others of the power of prayer, community, and resilience. Baylor and Zoey’s six-month birthday is approaching, and though their path is uncertain, their courage is undeniable.
Now, as the Blythe family faces another uphill climb, it is our turn to surround them with love and support. Baylor and Zoey are fighting with every ounce of their tiny bodies, and Zach and Alyson are standing firm in strength only parents can understand.
Let’s send them our best wishes, lift them in prayer, and remind them they are not alone. Because Baylor and Zoey’s story is one of struggle, yes—but also of incredible perseverance, unbreakable family bonds, and a community that refuses to stop rooting for them. 💙💗
Survivors, Steel, and Faithful Dogs: Rare Tales from 9/11.1026
Even more than two decades later, the stories of September 11, 2001, continue to reveal layers of heroism, survival, and unexpected resilience that many never hear about. Beyond the towering headlines and iconic photographs, Ground Zero holds a trove of rare, lesser-known details that capture the courage, ingenuity, and sheer will to survive in the face of unimaginable catastrophe.
One of the most poignant symbols is the “Survivors’ Staircase.” This granite and concrete staircase, partially shielded by the overhang of the plaza, became a critical escape route for hundreds fleeing the North Tower. People paused briefly on its steps, catching a breath before reaching the chaotic streets below. Today, preserved at the 9/11 Memorial Museum, it stands as a testament to survival and resilience, a quiet monument to those who made it down alive.
In the South Tower, elevator machine rooms played a role few might imagine. On the 81st floor, a row of massive Otis 339HT machines shielded Stairway A from the collapse, creating a narrow detour that allowed 16 people from the 78th to 84th floors to escape the impact zone. These enormous machines, some of the largest in the world at the time, survived the collapse intact, inadvertently protecting lives while bearing silent witness to the chaos.
Courage took many forms that day. Michael Hingson, blind since birth, survived on the 78th floor of the North Tower thanks to his guide dog, Roselle. The faithful dog led Michael and others down 1,463 smoke-filled steps, past firefighters climbing upward, showing the bravery of both rescuer and guided alike. Stories like theirs remind us that heroism can be quiet, personal, and profoundly moving.
Even the massive steel beams, nicknamed “The Tridents,” carry stories of resilience. Photographs of the Tridents post-collapse show them bent but standing amid rubble, defying destruction. They became enduring symbols of strength, a reminder that even amid devastation, there are fragments that hold fast.
Photojournalist Bill Biggart captured the world’s attention with his final photograph, taken just moments before the North Tower fell. He lost his life alongside the tower, leaving behind six rolls of film and a digital memory card that preserved nearly 150 images—some of the last visuals of that fateful day. These photos continue to convey the horror, confusion, and courage that filled Manhattan that morning.
Survivors from the upper floors were exceedingly rare. Elevators trapped people, stairwells blocked others—but a few, like the 16 who escaped via Stairway A in the South Tower, defied the odds. Their stories remain largely untold, overshadowed by the scale of tragedy, yet they are vital reminders of the human spirit’s tenacity.
Other artifacts, like the Survivor Glass, underscore endurance in the most literal sense. Out of more than 46,000 panes in the South Tower, only one survived the collapse. Found on the 82nd floor, it now stands at the 9/11 Museum as a haunting symbol of resilience.
Even those far from the towers acted heroically. Actor Steve Buscemi, a former FDNY firefighter, returned to Ground Zero to volunteer. He helped clear debris, remove bodies, and support recovery efforts, showing that courage wasn’t limited to those in uniform or inside the buildings—it extended to anyone willing to risk themselves to help.
Finally, some underground equipment—fire pumps, elevator hoists, and other heavy machinery—survived nearly intact. Their durability, a byproduct of engineering, inadvertently saved lives, providing shelter or structural protection during the collapse.
These stories—of staircases, machines, guide dogs, steel beams, rare survivors, and human volunteers—remind us that amidst the overwhelming tragedy of 9/11, countless small acts of resilience, ingenuity, and courage quietly unfolded. They are the hidden threads that weave the tapestry of that day, echoing across time to inspire all who learn of them.
We will never forget, not just the loss, but the extraordinary acts of survival and humanity that arose amid the devastation.
