For the love of Sebastian James: A legacy of books

10/1/2024

In the 10 years since baby Sebastian James’ short life ended, his mother, Kelly Williams, found a passion for carrying out her son’s legacy by providing thousands of books to Banner Thunderbird Medical Center’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and other NICUs in the state.

After his passing, a grief-stricken Kelly decided that Sebastian’s life would be remembered. One of the things she regretted was that she never read a story to him. Books filled Kelly’s childhood home, and she decided that all newborns and those in the NICU should have a book of their own.

In 2015, to honor Sebastian, family and friends provided a new book to every baby born at Banner Thunderbird and those in the NICU from June 3-14, the 11 days of Sebastian’s life. Books were similarly donated every year since then and, in December 2017, the Sebastian James Foundation donated a children's library to the hospital NICU for parents to borrow during their infant’s stay – totaling 2,700 copies of On the Night You Were Born to Banner Thunderbird and 246 books through the NICU libraries.

In honor of his 10th birthday, the Foundation provided 10 libraries to NICUs across the Valley (including eight at Banner medical centers).

Sebastian’s Story
In early June 2014, Kelly was in her second trimester of an uneventful pregnancy, planning for the birth of her firstborn in September. Just a month earlier, she learned that she was carrying a son and had decided to name him Sebastian James. On the evening of June 2, Kelly began experiencing excruciating stomach pain and nausea. A trip to the emergency room at Banner Thunderbird led to an initial diagnosis of gall bladder issues and a decision to do surgery after she delivered. But other signs were troubling: Kelly’s blood pressure was skyrocketing and the pain was intensifying. Her obstetrician ordered blood work that revealed a breakdown of her red blood cells, rapidly declining platelets and increased liver enzymes, symptoms of a rare form of preeclampsia called HELLP Syndrome that affects about 0.5 percent of all pregnancies. Kelly and Sebastian’s lives both were endangered and the only hope to save them was to deliver Sebastian via emergency C-section.

Sebastian James came into the world on June 3, 2014, without a sound. At 24 weeks gestation, he was 1 pound, 2 ounces and 11 inches long and he looked perfect – from the tufts of hair on the top of his head to the tiny toenails on his feet. The NICU team rushed him off for treatment and evaluation and later explained the challenges he faced to survive. Remarkably, he did survive that first night and 10 more until an infection took over his body, claiming his spirit.

During Sebastian’s time in the NICU, Kelly and the rest of the family were by his side. They learned how to provide a gentle touch to soothe him and not tear his delicate skin, to speak and sing to him just above a whisper so as not to startle and to cautiously change the tiniest diapers imaginable. In return, he would grasp their finger, occasionally open his eyes and constantly exude pure love. He was feisty and determined but his body was not. The first time Kelly held Sebastian was in the last seconds of his life.

“I’m very proud of the work my daughter has done to keep Sebastian’s memory alive and how she is teaching his younger brothers – August (9) and Miles (4) – on the importance of family and helping others,” says Kelly’s mom, Laura McBride.