Born at just five months with only a 3% chance of survival, this baby’s story took a turn his family will never forget
Every year, stories of survival remind people how fragile and precious life can be. For one family in Colorado, that feeling became deeply personal after a baby born far too early endured the impossible. After trying to conceive for a long time, Vivian Hernandez finally learned she was pregnant during the Mother’s Day weekend in 2025. As reported by 9 News on May 8, 2026, the mom was later filled with fear after doctors warned her that her baby had only a three percent chance of survival following severe complications during the early months of pregnancy. Nevertheless, the parents fought for their child, hanging on to the last thread of hope. After all that wait, this Mother's Day looked different.
Hernandez was only 18 weeks pregnant when her membranes ruptured and her water broke. The doctors gave news she dreaded — the baby would have only a 3% chance of survival. Doing the best they could, doctors delivered Sebastian Moncivais at 22 weeks. He was barely a pound, things were critical. Placed in specialized care, he was on the ventilator, gaining strength from prayers and medication. Defying all odds, the baby fought for his life. Call it a miracle or the love of a parent backed by precise treatment, but Sebastian came through. He eventually began eating fully by mouth and only needed limited oxygen support, something doctors described as remarkable for a baby born so early. After spending 113 days in a neonatal intensive care unit, he finally left the hospital just two weeks before his original due date.
His father, Henry Moncivais, recalled the baby being “as big as my hand” when he was born. Dr. Jennifer Zank, the neonatologist, said she sometimes had to prepare the family for the worst because his condition remained unstable for weeks. However, over time, Sebastian slowly improved. He began breathing more on his own and no longer depended fully on machines that had once kept him alive. As the months passed, the tiny baby continued reaching milestones doctors once believed may never happen. Hernandez said one of her happiest moments came when Sebastian finally returned home to meet his older sister, Raelynn.
He has now grown stronger, reached a weight of nearly 12 pounds, and continues to make steady progress for his developmental age. Though he still occasionally needs oxygen support, doctors remain encouraged by the steady progress he has made since leaving intensive care. Hernandez also reflected on how much her understanding of motherhood had changed during the past year. This year, Mother’s Day looked different for her. It became a reminder of “how strong, as a mom, you have to be to carry your family from the ups and downs.” The family is filled with renewed hope, and are ready to start a new chapter with their strong and brave new addition.