Jul 7, 2009 11:01 pm US/Eastern
'Miracle Baby' Born At N.J. Casino Thriving
ATLANTIC CITY (CBS 3) ―
A proud mother visited the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center's Mainland Campus in Absecon on Tuesday. It's where her son spent the first three months of his life.
Jack Kinahan was born weighing just two pounds and he arrived 15 weeks early. This all happened as his parents were vacationing at the Borgata's Water Club Hotel last July.
"It was terrifying," said Tracey Kinahan, who told reporters she was in shock when she went into labor at just six months pregnant, or 25 weeks.
"Actually what I thought is that we had lost him."
The Kinahan's dialed Borgata's Medical staff thinking that Tracey had food poisoning and EMT, Vicky Becotte, rushed to the room.
But in a matter of moments, Tracey had delivered her son in the bathroom.
"I saw baby Jack, I thought he was born stillborn but he started to cry. It was amazing, but so scary, I took a moment, and then my training just took over." said Becotte.
She did CPR right away, which doctors said was crucial.
"He was 2lbs., 5oz, you could see through his little skin to his bones," explained Tracey.
Dr. Tarl Mehta, who runs the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit at AtlantiCare's Mainland Campus, said "For somebody born in a hotel room, his eyes were fused, his lungs were completely white and his chance of survival really was 1 percent."
"Having a baby born 15 weeks early, they really brought him full term here, they recreate the womb here in hospital, it's a miracle the way they do it," said Jack's father John Kinahan.
Jack went from 2 to 6 pounds; spending 107 days inside a state of the art incubator called the Giraffe.
It uses humidity to boost a newborns temperature. Tracey's original due date was November 8; Jack went home with his parents to Queens, N.Y. on November 13.
"At one point, my husband could put his wedding ring all the way up his arm," Tracey said.
The Kinahan's hoped to have some relaxation maybe even hit the jackpot on their so-called 'Baby Moon' at the Borgata.
"They are angels, they gave us our baby back," said Tracey.
"This baby was truly a miracle. He is the epitome of why I got into the medical field, "said Dr. Jennifer Timoseco.
With only two teeth, Jack's favorite food is zucchini, and may soon be replaced by birthday cake.
Jack turns 1-year-old on July 27.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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