When Kimberly and Waylon Williford welcomed their daughter Abigail into the world 18 years ago, her arrival did not go according to plan. Born at just 30 weeks and weighing 2 pounds, 11 ounces, Abby spent the first 91 days of her life in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center. For the Willifords, those months were filled with fear, hope and a deep trust in the hands caring for their daughter.
“For 91 days, the NICU was her home, and the staff became so much more than caregivers,” Kimberly said. “They became family. On the days I could not be there, I found comfort in knowing she was surrounded by people who loved and protected her as their own.”
Today, Abby is a senior at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, a residential STEM high school. The Willifords return to the NICU each year on Abby’s birthday, with a cake in hand, to honor the people who made Abby’s future possible. She recently returned to the NICU to celebrate her 18th birthday, a milestone she doesn’t take for granted.
“I know some babies born premature like I was don’t make it to 18 – especially 18 and healthy – so I think that’s an amazing accomplishment and testament to both my doctors and God,” Abby said.
The ritual that began when she was young has grown more meaningful with time.
“It has been an important part of my life to go back and show my appreciation for the NICU team,” Abby said. “Even if they weren’t there when I was born, I still love to show my appreciation for other people who are doing the same thing and taking care of the NICU babies like they took care of me.”
Kimberly shares that sentiment.
“Over the years, while some staff have retired or moved on, what has never changed is the compassion and dedication of those who continue to care for the smallest and most fragile patients,” she said.
Kimberly also hopes their visits bring optimism to patients and families in the NICU themselves.
“We hope Abby’s visits offer encouragement on the hard days and a glimpse of hope for families walking through those early days,” Kimberly said.
Abby also volunteers at ECU Health Beaufort Hospital in the summers while she’s home from school. Abby’s time spent at ECU Health Beaufort made an impression on Volunteer Services Manager Angelina Brittle. Brittle first met Abby in 2024, shortly after stepping into her role. Abby had already been volunteering since 2023 as part of the ECU Health Volunteen Summer Program, and Brittle said she immediately recognized something special.
“I instantly knew from the moment I met her, she was going to be a great mentor for the new high school kids coming in,” Brittle said. “She is a go-getter. She is so kind, super smart and just has a big heart for helping others. She is a really great Volunteeen, and I can’t wait to see all the great things she’s going to do.”
Abby set a personal goal of completing 60 volunteer hours before graduating high school. She surpassed that with more than 75 hours at ECU Health Beaufort. She has served in a variety of departments, including the ambulatory surgical unit, cardiac rehab, the emergency department, the main lobby, the Marian L. Shepherd Cancer Center and the workroom.
“All of those different areas allow for exposure in different fields of practice, but also allow her to engage with different disciplines,” Brittle said. “And with that, I have seen that she has made some amazing connections.”
Brittle often observes volunteers interacting with patients from a distance, and she says Abby shines in those moments. For patients in the hospital, the presence of the Volunteens can offer a welcome distraction from the reason they’re in the hospital. She says patients frequently strike up conversations with high school volunteers.
“I’ve seen her grow in her ability to engage with our patients,” said Brittle. “She makes our patients smile when she sees them, especially in the ambulatory surgical unit. She’s just a light, and I hope one day she returns here as a working professional.”
Abby’s mother often shared stories about the doctors and nurses who cared for her, and those stories planted a seed. In the fall, Abby will begin studying biology and public health at East Carolina University Honors College on a pre-med track.
“Her experience has shaped the person she is becoming,” Kimberly said. “It gives her perspective, compassion and a deep appreciation for life. It continues to guide her dream of one day becoming a physician.
“We are forever grateful for the hands that held our daughter at the very beginning,” Kimberly said. “Because of them, we get to watch her step into a future that once felt uncertain.”
Share your story with us at go.ecuhealth.org/gratitude. Stories like these show the lasting impact of the Maynard Children’s Hospital.