COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ulysses and Elise Ford are counting their blessings over their first daughter Kayla. 

What You Need To Know

  • Columbus Public Health numbers show as of 2019, African American babies die more than two-and-a-half times the rate of white babies in Columbus

  • Organizations like CelebrateOne are fighting to break down the stigma surrounding infant mortality

  • The Ford's family baby girl, Kayla, was born with a hole in her heart

  • After months of worry, Kayla, 17 months old, is happy and healthy

“Even with the epidural, you're paralyzed. I still was trying to move my body because I felt like something wasn't right. And another nurse came, and that's when she said my babies head had been crowned like two or three hours,” said Elise. 

Kayla was born eight weeks premature and after coming out of NICU, there were some challenges for the new parents. 

“She had a small hole in her heart, which at times, me and my husband had to watch her while she was in her crib and had to continuously watch her to make sure she was still breathing. There were times where she did stop breathing, and we had to tap her foot just so it can upstart her heart,” said Elise. 

The Ford family is one of many who had a frightening experience. Infant mortality numbers are alarming in Ohio.

Columbus Public Health numbers show, as of 2019, African American babies die more than two-and-a-half times the rate of white babies in Columbus. 

CelebrateOne Director Maureen Stapleton said there are other factors not economically based that impact a family from celebrating their child's first birthday. 

“(The factors are) implicit bias of doctors. They are environmental issues of communities and cities. They are racism as a public health crisis. And so the city is dedicated to addressing health equity. CelebrateOne and our lead entities are dedicated to addressing health equity and over the next six months we will be doing strategic planning to address strategies to get to that disparity,” said Stapleton. 

But not only is the organization working to get to that disparity, but it's also breaking down stigmas as well. 

“I feel that we were stereotyped in the fact that they were surprised that it was a Black married couple who came in there, who had — both of us have — degrees. Both of us have a meaningful income. Both of us were intelligent and could speak. We knew some rights that we were supposed to have,” said Ulysses. 

The Fords are also doing their part with the Divine 9 partnership to help moms and babies in Columbus and Franklin County, like they once were.

“With Phi Beta Sigma, our goal is service for humanity, and we are a service oriented organization. People checked on us. We had about five or six months' worth of diapers. Some of them donated my CelebrateOne. Some of them donated by Sigma, Zeta. They had special parties for us to be to be able to make sure we make it through,” said Ulysses. 

Now 17 months old, Kayla is a healthy and playful toddler. 

Her mother has this advice to any parents coping with a premature birth. 

“Just listen to your doctor because they will definitely know your body more so than any other of the doctors that are in the hospital,” said Elise.