Bismarck, N.D. — A Mandan family celebrated a significant homecoming recently as Zachariah Armstrong, born prematurely on Christmas Day, was released from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Sanford Bismarck after a 270-day stay. His journey home, marking a major milestone for the family, also brought into focus a dramatic turn of events that his mother believes may have saved her life.
Zachariah's birth, along with his twin sister, Zaylee, came much earlier than expected. Both babies arrived at just 25 weeks gestation, nearly three months before their April 6 due date. Zachariah was born weighing one pound, five ounces, with his twin sister, Zaylee, following shortly after at one pound, three ounces. Their mother, Alexis Armstrong, recalled Zachariah's extremely small size at birth.
Zaylee, Zachariah's twin, also faced a prolonged stay in the Sanford Bismarck NICU, spending 100 days there before being able to go home. Zachariah's longer hospitalization, spanning nine months, was necessary for his development. Dr. Tracey Morgan-Harris, a neonatal specialist at Sanford Bismarck, explained that Zachariah's lungs required extensive time to grow and mature. Dr. Morgan-Harris highlighted the severity of his early condition, noting that his survival was remarkable given the circumstances, underscoring the medical challenges he overcame.
The twins' unexpected early arrival took on a profound significance for the Armstrong family a few months later. Three months after the babies were born, Alexis Armstrong received a diagnosis of stage three colorectal cancer. Reflecting on this diagnosis, Alexis Armstrong expressed a strong belief that her children's premature birth played a crucial role in the timely discovery of her illness.
She stated that without their early arrival, her cancer might not have been detected in time, potentially progressing to stage four. Alexis Armstrong emphasized that the cancer was detected close to spreading to other organs when it was found. The early diagnosis, she suggests, offered a critical window for intervention that might have otherwise been missed.
Alexis Armstrong has already undergone six weeks of chemotherapy and radiation treatments to combat the cancer. Her medical journey is far from over, with 14 more weeks of chemotherapy scheduled, to be followed by surgery. Despite the daunting medical path ahead, she finds powerful motivation in her children. She shared her inspiration, reflecting on "how strong my child was in the moment that he needed to be strong," and how this resilience fuels her own fight. She indicated that if her child could endure so much, she too believed she could overcome her challenges.
The long and complex medical journeys of both Zachariah and Alexis have placed a substantial financial burden on the Armstrong family, resulting in significant medical bills over the past nine months. This story, centered on resilience and unexpected blessings, touches residents across Burleigh and Morton counties, highlighting the strength of families facing profound health challenges with the support of local medical facilities like Sanford Bismarck.