A couple from Port Charlotte, Florida, Kenzie Lewellen and Dewey Bennett, are celebrating the arrival of their baby boy under extraordinary circumstances—during Hurricane Milton. The storm, which made landfall on Wednesday evening, brought heavy rains and strong winds, causing widespread flooding and power outages. However, for Kenzie and Dewey, this hurricane will forever be remembered as the backdrop to their child’s birth.
Kenzie, 22, began experiencing contractions early Wednesday morning, just as Hurricane Milton approached the Gulf Coast. “My mind was just running a million miles an hour,” she recalled. “I was very nervous.” The couple knew they needed to get to the hospital quickly, but with memories of Dewey’s past experiences during hurricanes weighing heavily on them, they felt stressed. Dewey, 24, shared his own worries about the storm, particularly because he lost his father during Hurricane Irma in 2017 when emergency services couldn’t reach them.
As the hurricane intensified, the couple’s home began to take on water even before Kenzie’s contractions started. With Kenzie at 39 weeks pregnant, they feared that if her labor continued during the storm, it would be nearly impossible to navigate the flooded roads to the hospital. “I just didn’t want to go through what I had to go through with the last hurricane back in 2017,” Dewey admitted.
In the days leading up to Kenzie’s labor, the couple had contemplated moving to West Palm Beach. They felt lucky they didn’t make that decision when they learned that area experienced multiple tornadoes before Hurricane Milton made landfall.
With her labor progressing, Kenzie and Dewey decided to head to Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Venice, about 30 minutes away. Kenzie’s mother drove them through treacherous weather conditions. “It was extremely windy, so we were trying to be as cautious as possible,” Kenzie explained. Despite the storm, the roads were relatively empty, allowing them to reach the hospital safely.
Once they arrived, only Dewey was permitted to accompany Kenzie inside. This news upset Kenzie, as she wished her mother could stay for support. “I was very, very upset that my mom couldn’t stay because she is my best friend and one of my biggest supporters,” Kenzie said. However, they stayed connected via FaceTime throughout the labor.
Kenzie labored in a room that had a view of the storm outside. As she dealt with the contractions, she commented on the hurricane’s intensity. “I was telling him, I’m like, ‘Oh, that tree looks like it’s going to fly out of the ground!’” she said, recalling how she and Dewey watched the storm unfold together.
After several hours of labor, the doctor informed Kenzie that her baby was in the wrong position, and a cesarean section would be necessary. Overwhelmed, Kenzie shared her fears about facing the surgery alone. “I had so much going through my head at that point, a storm and my family,” she said, but she felt comforted by the doctors and nurses who supported her during this critical moment.
At 11:45 p.m., after the storm had wreaked havoc outside, Kenzie and Dewey welcomed their son, Dewey Lester Bennett, IV. Weighing 8 pounds, their baby boy marked a moment of joy amid the storm’s devastation. “It is the most indescribable feeling,” Kenzie said, holding her newborn. “He’s a part of you and also part of the person you love.”
Dewey couldn’t contain his happiness. “My cheeks hurt because I haven’t stopped smiling. It was great,” he said, reflecting on the overwhelming joy of becoming a father.
With the experience fresh in their minds, Kenzie joked about their son’s stubbornness for making her wait during the hurricane. Some family and friends even playfully suggested that they nickname him Milton, after the storm that surrounded his arrival. “He is a miracle baby,” Kenzie said proudly, as she held him up for the world to see.
As the couple navigates the challenges of new parenthood, they will always remember the extraordinary circumstances of their son’s birth—a true testament to resilience and hope amid chaos. Despite the destruction caused by Hurricane Milton, their story is one of love and new beginnings.
