Baby born during Hurricane Irma celebrates first birthday

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — One year ago Tuesday, a Jacksonville mother went into labor and delivered her baby by flashlight in the middle of Hurricane Irma.

Action News Jax first introduced you to Tavian when he was just days old. Tuesday, Tavian is celebrating his first birthday.

Most babies these days are born in a hospital. Not Tavian. He didn’t even have electricity.

“We weren’t expecting it,” said Cyrus Cruz.

Last September, Cruz and his girlfriend Kristin couldn’t get to the hospital because it was surrounded by water.

90 mph winds knocked down power lines and trees around their home, and their electricity.

So this family got their flashlights out and hoped and prayed their midwives could somehow get to them.

“They had to go around the police, had to go around the back way,” said Cruz.

And they eventually did. One year later, as they celebrate Tavian’s first birthday, they are reminded of how strong their son is.

“We’re very, very proud of him for making it through all that,” said Kristin Kadas, Tavian’s mother.

“Son, you’re not like the average kid. You went through a lot of things that most children don’t go through. He’s going to have a good story when he gets older,” said Cruz.

For many, Cruz said it’s a day of painful memories. For him, happy ones.

“For me, I look, you know, I look at Sept. 11, as something to look forward for; this is when my son was born,” he said.

Cox Media Group