Arkell and Dana Graves had suffered through four miscarriages and a stillbirth during their 17 years of marriage, so it was only natural that the intensejoy they felt in 2015when they learned Dana was 18 weeks pregnantwent viral.
“Arkell was just boo-hooing and crying,” Dana, 45, tells PEOPLE of their memorable video, in which she told her husband the happy news with a bag of burger buns and an ultrasound photo on top of the couple’s oven.
Their optimism was tested, however, when Dana gave birth to son Kaleb almost five months premature on Oct. 20, 2015, landing him in the neonatal intensive care unit at Richmond’s VCU Medical Center for nearly an entire year.
“Going up there every day, and seeing others that were in need, we were a little fortunate to take care of different things,” Arkell, 45, tells PEOPLE. “When we saw others that were less fortunate than ourselves, [and] when my wife brought up the idea to help others, I thought it was a good idea.”
Dana Graves (far right).
“I don’t care if it’s one day or 300 days, when you have a child in NICU every day seems like eternity,” Dana says. “I wanted people to have a sounding board and feel that they could come to someone to talk about [it] and have someone relate to them.”
PEOPLE’s first-ever Kindness Issue is dedicated to highlighting the ways, big and small, that kindness can make a difference and change lives. Clickhereand pick up the issue, on stands Friday, Nov. 8, for more stories on the impact of kindness from Julia Roberts,Tiffany Haddishand other stars, as well as everyday people practicing kindness in their communities. To share the story of someone who’s done something exceptionally kind, emailkindnessawards@peoplemag.com.
“We received so much love worldwide,” Arkell says. “The prayers, the cards, it was only right for us to give back.”
Meanwhile, little Kaleb, now nearly 4 years old, continues to make progress, and remains “the most joyful, happy little boy” despite 14 active diagnoses, including cerebral palsy and tracheomalacia.
“I don’t see the deficiency. I just see a perfect little boy,” says Dana, who adds that she has faith that her son, who uses a wheelchair, will one day walk.
“I’m just looking forward to him progressing every day,” Arkell says. “I just see so much changes in him every day.”
source: people.com
