Alex Zavala
I am a small business owner in Austin, TX. Father to two preemie girls. Mia (30wks) and Emerson (27wks). Husband to my beautiful wife Jenn. I am also a NICU Dad (67 days). We are an Ambassador Family for March of Dimes, The Ronald McDonald House Charities, and Graham's Foundation
-
What You Don’t See After the NICU
This video is personal and raw. It’s about the part of the NICU journey that rarely gets talked about—what happens to NICU dads after the hospital stay is over. After our NICU journey, I fell into one of the darkest seasons of my life. My physical health declined. My mental health crumbled. I didn’t recognize myself anymore—and honestly, I didn’t know how to ask for help. As NICU dads, we’re often expected to be the rock—to stay strong for everyone else. But the truth is, I was silently breaking. And I know I’m not alone. This is why we must talk about it. The NICU doesn’t just affect babies. It…
-
A NICU Dad’s Journey: Strength in Silence
POV: You’re a NICU dad. Sleepless nights. Silent strength. Smiles that hide the fear. Prayers whispered in the hallway. The journey is real—but you’re not alone.Tag a NICU dad. Share for the ones who stay strong in the shadows.#NICUDad #BuiltForThis #PrematurityAwareness #FathersMatter #NICUWarrior #DadsOfTikTok #SilentStrength #TheNICUDad #mentalhealth
-
What about dads? Life after the NICU
A few months back I was asked by Bryana Salazar to be a part of a study she was doing. I jumped at the chance when I found out the study was exploring the needs of NICU fathers and their experiences after discharge. 32 NICU fathers participated in this study to help us learn more about the NICU experience and the transition home. Please take a look at her study here: https://spark.adobe.com/page/wR523tLe542qn/#theme-5 Here is what she found. Theme 1: Dads and Healthcare Providers Interacting with healthcare providers while your child is in the NICU and beyond can be intimidating. Theme 2: Adjusting Expectations For some fathers, the transition is difficult…
You May Also Like
My NICU Journey…67 Days in the NICU
Facing my NICU reality
When time stands still…
-
NICU Birthday
A NICU stay is definitely a life changing experience. The hell we are put through and the gratefulness of how blessed we are, we carry them forever.
-
When time stands still…
After making the drive from hell where you are begging God to spare your wife and your baby, I came running in asking where my wife has been taken. I run to labor and delivery and open the door to a room and couldn't believe what I was seeing.
-
Facing my NICU reality
I think from the very first day of going into the NICU I lived in a state of denial. Even after processing and accepting some of the reality of where we were, I was still in denial of what my expectations should have been for everything.
-
Ronald McDonald House Charities
On June 10, 2013 my wife and I both went to work on what seemed like a normal Monday morning. She was 27 weeks pregnant. It was the first day of summer vacation for our oldest daughter, who had just turned 9 the week before. Everything was fine, until my wife called around 9 a.m., hysterical. Her water broke, and an ambulance was on its way to take her to the hospital. I was almost 45 minutes away, but made it to the hospital in about 15 minutes. Our world was turned upside down. We were informed that the baby was breach and we would have to have an…
-
We love our Neonatal Nurses!
There is a special bond between neonatal nurses and families with babies in the NICU. If I were to explain this to new NICU dads I would start by telling them about our experience and sharing how NICU nurses become more than just caretakers of your baby. They were one of our main support groups during our NICU stay. There were so many intimate moments that were shared with our NICU nurses, some good and some bad. From the very first day that I walked into the NICU and saw our tiny baby in her iscolet, with all those tubes, I cried. It was one of our NICU nurses who…
-
Kangaroo Care, get in there Dads!
As National Kangaroo Care Week has come to an end, I wanted to share my experiences with kangaroo care and some advice for NICU dads. Kangaroo care is incredible! I remember when our nurses explained to us that when our baby was removed from the heated isolette and placed on my wife’s chest, skin to skin contact was going to regulate our baby’s body temperature, and it did! Our baby was hooked up to monitors and was having her temperature checked constantly, and here when she had that skin to skin contact, everything was perfect. All of her levels were stable and her temperature was just right. It was unbelievable.…
-
Happy Parents of Preemies Day!
On this Parents of Preemies Day I took a moment to reflect on what being a parent of a preemie really is to me. What does it mean to be a parent of a preemie? We have two daughters, both of which were preemies. Our oldest was born at 30 weeks and weighed 3 lbs. 6 ounces. Our youngest was born at 27 weeks and weighed 2 lbs. 5 ounces. Having two daughters who were preemies, the biggest thing I have come to understand is that when it comes to preemies, the words fight or fighter will never describe a person or situation better. From day one of that preemie…
