Episode 78: Dana’s Story: Miscarriage, Adoption, A Miraculous NICU Baby, and Supporting Other NICU Families

Dana Griffin-Graves, Co-founder of the Baby Buns 4 Life Network

Dana Griffin-Graves is a wife, mother, and she’s the co-founder of the Baby Buns 4 Life Network. Dana and her husband, Arkell, had been trying to conceive for 17 years, they lost four children to miscarriage, and lost another child (son) – who was stillborn at 23 weeks. They adopted a beautiful little boy and never thought they would be able to conceive again. But, sure enough, life had other plans.

During a doctor visit, Dana shockingly found out that she was 18 WEEKS pregnant with a little boy. Dana decided to tell Arkell by putting “burger buns” in the “oven” next to the ultrasound picture, she made a video of his reaction that got put on YouTube – and that video went viral. Shortly after that video was made, Dana was hospitalized and their son, Kaleb, was born at approximately 23 weeks – the same age their stillborn son was.

Kaleb was only 13 ounces when he was born, and the hospital said he was the smallest baby they had ever seen born there. Kaleb spent almost his entire first year in the hospital and was released just before his first birthday – weighing in at 13 pounds when he went home.

Dana and Arkell knew the struggles, pain, and hardships that come from having a child in the NICU, but they also experienced so much love, joy, and support from their families, friends, and the hospital staff. So, they decided to start an organization called the Baby Buns 4 Life Network, that works to educate, inspire, and support the families of preemie babies – and creates a network of love around them.

Dana and Kaleb
Dana and Kaleb

Dana joins the 1GR podcast to share her personal life story, the story of how she met her husband Arkell, the heartbreak they experienced from numerous miscarriages and their stillborn son, their beautiful adoption story, and the incredible story of how she found out she was pregnant at 18-weeks, the viral “Baby Buns” video, and the miraculous story of her NICU baby, Kaleb. And she talks about Baby Buns 4 Life and the incredible work they do to support other NICU families. You don’t want to miss this inspiring and powerful episode!

The 1 Girl Revolution podcast is also available on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRadio, and anywhere you find podcasts.

The Graves family at their appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show
The Graves family at their appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show

For more information on Dana and the Baby Buns for Life Network, please visit their website.

To donate, please visit here.

To follow their continued journey, please follow them on Facebook here or here.

And to watch the infamous “Baby Buns”, you can watch it below:

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