A Few Degrees Meant a Lifetime: Kelvin’s Story of Survival in Zambia

Kelvin entered the world too soon, too small, and far too fragile to survive on his own. Weighing just 2.5 pounds, his tiny body struggled to do what full-term newborns can do with ease: stay warm. At a rural health center in central Zambia, the skilled birth attendant who delivered him immediately saw the signs of danger. Kelvin needed urgent, specialized neonatal care.

But the nearest hospital was hours away and, for a preterm baby, every minute of cold can be life-threatening.

By the time the medical transport arrived, Kelvin’s temperature had already begun to fall. His life hung in the balance. Yet inside that ambulance was something remarkable: an Embrace incubator, ready to provide the warmth he desperately needed.

The moment Kelvin was placed inside the gentle, steady heat of the Embrace incubator, his body started to recover. His temperature began climbing — slowly, then steadily. By the time he reached the hospital, it had risen to 97.3°F. Soon after, Kelvin was resting safely at 98.6°F, warm, stable, and alive.

For a baby born early, a few degrees can mean a lifetime.

Kelvin’s story is not unique, but thanks to people like you, it can have a happy ending. In Zambia, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Haiti, and beyond, Embrace incubators are protecting newborns who would otherwise be at grave risk from hypothermia. Every incubator delivered is a lifeline. Every partner trained is a guardian of new life. Every donor is part of these moments of rescue, recovery, and hope.

We invite you to give the gift of warmth and help protect every baby’s tomorrow.

Hope begins with warmth. And because of you, that warmth is reaching the world’s most vulnerable newborns.