A NICU Dad Story: Life After a 25 Week Premature Birth
About this episode
Jared Muscat shares his family's journey through the NICU after the premature birth of his son Ollie, discussing the emotional challenges and the importance of support as a father.
"I kept telling her, 'We've got this.' And inside, I had no clue what was coming next." What does it look like to be "the strong one" when your world is falling apart? In this episode, Katie Taylor sits down with Jared Muscat—dad, surfer, and self-proclaimed "dad-vocate"—to share his family's unexpected journey into the NICU after a high-risk pregnancy. From a routine 20-week appointment to welcoming his son Ollie at just 25 weeks, Jared opens up about fear, resilience, and what it means to show up as a partner and father in crisis. He shares the emotional weight of protecting his family while processing his own grief, the importance of finding support, and how small rituals—like late-night NICU visits and lullabies—helped him bond with his son. This is an honest, heartfelt conversation about fatherhood, vulnerability, and the strength it takes to keep going when nothing feels certain. What You'll Hear in This Episode: The moment everything changed during a routine pregnancy appointment Navigating uncertainty, fear, and decision-making as a dad and partner The emotional experience of becoming a NICU parent overnight How Jared balanced supporting his wife, caring for his older…
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