HIGHLAND CITY, Fla. - Ashley Saunders’s water broke three months early.


What You Need To Know

  • Baby Alexander was just 1 pound, 15 ounces when born

  • He is now doing very well, his mother says

  • More Good News headlines

“They kept him on the oxygen mask, beating his chest, continually making sure he was good and fighting for his life,” said Saunders, a first-time mother.

It was a breech birth - her son’s umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck. It was up to first responders in the back of Rescue 28’s truck to deliver him.

They succeeded but Alexander was only one pound and 15 ounces - so small, they said they couldn’t find a pulse. 

And now?

“But honestly, now look at him … had brain bleeds and all of that but now he is completely fine,” Saunders said.

Alexander is a healthy, beautiful, bouncing baby boy. It’s something Saunders says she owes to her village – Highland City first responders and a team of doctors at Lakeland Regional Hospital.

“He had like nine different specialists,” Saunders said. “All his specialists were surprised. Now he’s adjusted for 3 months since he came a whole three months early. So, now he’s nine months.”

Most importantly, he’s OK.

“He has a titanium clip in his heart but that all went well,” Saunders said. “Today he loves his little chewy toys, Elmos, teether. He loves to stand.  Hasn’t been crawling yet, just backwards right now.”

Ashley and Alexander visit the first responders at Station 28, often. Expressing their gratitude for doing what these men and women do every day — be there for us in some of our darkest moments — and then celebrate with us when we make it to the other side.