The NICU Dad Podcast

What happens when the fight for your premature baby's life collides with the sudden, unthinkable loss of your wife? In our most raw and powerful episode yet, we sit down with Weston Brandon to discuss the unspoken reality of widowed NICU fathers.Today, we are sharing a story of profound grief, unimaginable resilience, and the life-altering impact of NICU nurses.Wes Brandon’s journey into fatherhood began at 26 weeks with an emergency C-section, welcoming his son Vance at just 1 lb., 13 oz. But only two weeks into their NICU journey, tragedy struck. Wes's wife suffered a fatal pulmonary embolism, leaving him a 23-year-old widower navigating the terrors of the NICU completely alone.In this deeply vulnerable conversation, Wes holds nothing back. He walks us through the harrowing day his life was shattered, the heavy, silent drives to the hospital, and the paralyzing numbness of trying to bond with his micro-preemie while grieving his wife. He also shares the turning point: a stark, honest conversation with a NICU nurse named Bev that forced him to step up, connect with his son, and ultimately transform his trauma into a mission.We discuss the critical gaps in maternal mortality conversations, the complete lack of resources for widowed fathers, and how Wes is now changing the landscape for men left behind.If you are a NICU parent, a healthcare provider, or someone navigating profound grief, you cannot miss this episode.

Episode 13- Jennifer ZavalaIn this deeply personal episode of The NICU Dad Podcast, Alex Zavala is joined by his wife, Jennifer Zavala, for an honest conversation about the emotional reality of life inside and beyond the NICU.Together, they reflect on their family’s journey through premature birth, medical uncertainty, trauma, fear, survival mode, and the lasting impact the NICU experience can have on both mothers and fathers.Jennifer shares her perspective as a NICU mom while Alex opens up about the weight many fathers silently carry during medical crisis, parenthood, and life after discharge.This episode explores: • The emotional toll of the NICU on parents • Marriage and relationships during crisis • Fear, anxiety, and trauma after premature birth • Different ways moms and dads process the NICU experience • Faith, resilience, and finding strength in uncertainty • Why these conversations matter for NICU families everywhereWhether you are a NICU parent, healthcare professional, advocate, or someone supporting a family through prematurity, this conversation offers honesty, hope, and connection.Listen, subscribe, and share with someone who needs this conversation today.Learn more at: The NICU Dad Official Website

In this episode, Dan Miller shares his story of having his premature baby born on Christmas Day. Dan, who is a board member of his local Ronald McDonald House Charity, also talks about NICU Dad support and offers his advice for navigating the NICU.

NICU dad and author Adam Wood shares his NICU story of his son’s delivery at just 25 weeks, the feelings of guilt and failure he felt in not being able to protect his wife and child, and how he’s bringing NICU parents together with his book, Our Preemie Adventure.

NICU dad Fabian Tejedor shares his story of having a micro preemie daughter in 2002, the anxiety of his wife’s high-risk pregnancy after loss, and how he and his wife have learned to adjust their expectations at each stage of their daughter’s life, from birth to the teen years.