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Fourth Sextuplet Arrives At Home

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By STEVE KORNACKI, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 3, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - Jackson Robert Byler came home Friday from All Children's Hospital, where he has been cared for with his siblings since Florida's first sextuplets were born Sept. 1.

He is the fourth of the set to go home to Wesley Chapel, and his arrival means parents Ben and Karoline Byler are in the market for a replacement for their six-seat Dodge Caravan. They also have a daughter, Zoe, 4.

"We're shopping for a 12-passenger van with plenty of room to fit the kids and room for all the strollers, too," Ben Byler said. He has converted the garage into a future play room.

Jackson joins Brady Christopher, Mackenzie Margaret and Eli Benjamin at home. Ryan Patrick "likely will be next" and could be home by Thanksgiving, leaving Charlie Craig at the hospital.

"Jackson got feeding mastered, and it was the last thing he had to work on to come home," Ben Byler said. "He coded way back when he had breathing problems, but he is OK now."

Neonatologist Carine Stromquist, who cared for three of the siblings, said four checkpoints for the premature babies coming home were to take every feeding by mouth, maintain stable body temperature and respiratory functions, and to weigh at least 4 pounds.
Karoline Byler picked up Jackson on Friday afternoon, leaving dad and her mother, Patty Kiewra, to tend to the children while she was gone.

They arrived at 5 p.m., just in time for Jackson's siblings to see him as they woke up from a nap.

Reporter Steve Kornacki can be reached at (813) 731-8170 or skornacki@tampatrib.com.

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