Alex Zavala
Alex Zavala – Entrepreneur, Advocate, and Founder of The NICU Dad. Alex Zavala is a passionate entrepreneur and fatherhood advocate dedicated to transforming how families experience life in the NICU. As the founder of The NICU Dad, Alex has built a national platform empowering fathers through community, conversation, and connection — including The NICU Dad Podcast, The NICU Dad Huddle, and The NICU Dad Collective, a forthcoming consulting initiative to help hospitals strengthen father engagement and family-centered care. A longtime Family Partner Faculty Member and Patient Family Advisory Council leader within the Dell Children’s Ascension NICU Network, Alex uses his lived experience as a NICU dad to drive quality improvement and emotional support for families facing similar journeys. Beyond advocacy, Alex is also a seasoned business owner, continuing his family’s legacy as the leader of Johnny Romero Heating & Air Conditioning, proudly serving Central Texas since 1983. Whether mentoring NICU fathers or managing his company’s growth, Alex brings heart, vision, and purpose to everything he does.
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Things don’t end in the NICU…
My daughter was a ROCKSTAR while in the NICU. She exceeded all expectations and was even released before our original due date. After she came home, it was an onslaught of doctors visits. We were going to our pediatrician for regular newborn check-ups but were also seeing other doctors to help monitor her progress. She was getting evaluated quite often. At first, everything was great. She would pass her evaluations with flying colors! Little did I realize it was because she was still being evaluated for her gestational age and not her adjusted age. Finally, when she was old enough, they were able to tell that she was delayed in…
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My NICU Journey…67 Days in the NICU
My NICU journey began the same way that it does for most NICU dads. My wife was in the hospital, recovering from a C-section; my new baby was in the NICU, after being born at 27 weeks; our oldest daughter was at my parents house with our dog, trying to enjoy her first week of summer break. Now began what I like to call “The NICU Dad Shuffle”. Where do I go? Who do I spend time with first? Who needs me the most? How long can I go without sleep? Or a shower? These were all questions that would become my daily routine. My wife was in the hospital…
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10 things I wish I would have known as a new NICU Dad…
I knew people who had children in NICUs, but I never really understood what that really meant. I knew that babies that needed surgery or babies who were not doing too well, were in NICUs. What I never really thought about was the NICU experience, especially for a NICU dad. Now having gone through our own 67 day NICU stay, there are several things I wish I had known about being a NICU dad. I can only speak from my experience, but I’m sure I’m not alone. There are some things that I wish I had known or at least been able to prepare for as a NICU dad. I…
