Today marks a significant milestone as he turns ten weeks old — a small yet meaningful achievement.
In Clanton, Alabama, baby Drake Mosley is not only celebrating his birthday but also a remarkable event: for the first time since his birth, he is breathing independently.
Just before the Alabama–Tennessee game began, doctors removed his oxygen tube. His parents, Jack and Courtney Mosley, watched with tears in their eyes as their son — born at just 25 weeks and weighing a little over a pound — took his first full breaths without assistance.
It felt like a moment destined to happen.
As the Crimson Tide entered the field, so did Drake — stepping into a new chapter of his life.
💔 A Story of Two Boys and One Miracle
The Mosleys never anticipated becoming parents so soon.
Courtney went into labor at 25 weeks, and their identical twin boys, Foster and Drake, arrived far too early. Foster weighed just 1 lb. 8 oz., while Drake weighed 1 lb. 6 oz.
The following days were filled with the sounds of beeping monitors, anxious prayers, and overwhelming love. Every hour was crucial. Every breath was a struggle.
Then, on the eleventh day, tragedy struck — Foster couldn’t survive.
He passed away in his parents’ arms, leaving his twin brother to continue the fight for both of them.
The Mosleys prayed through their tears, believing Foster was safe in the arms of Jesus. Yet, the grief remained. It lingered, even as hope began to blossom once more.
💫 Drake’s Fight
From that moment on, Drake carried not only his own story but also that of his brother.
Every ounce gained, every day survived, was a triumph for two hearts instead of one.
The NICU became their second home — a place where life and loss coexist, where hope flourishes in the tiniest of bodies. Nurses offered words of encouragement, doctors adjusted tubes, and Jack and Courtney held onto faith that wavered but never faltered.
Then, two days ago, something extraordinary occurred.
The oxygen tube was removed.
At 3 lbs. 8 oz., their baby boy took his first unassisted breath — strong and steady.
The room fell silent for a moment, then erupted with tears and smiles. It wasn’t just progress; it was a miracle.
Dressed in his tiniest Alabama onesie, with his little head wrapped in crimson, Drake gazed at the TV, his eyes wide with curiosity, as his family laughed through their tears. “He chose the perfect day,” Jack remarked, “to breathe on his own.”
❤️ A Family Divided by Loss, United by Faith
Foster may not be physically present, but his spirit lives on in every heartbeat of his twin.
When Drake breathes, his parents see both their boys — one in Heaven, one still fighting on Earth.
“Foster’s our angel,” Courtney softly states. “He’s cheering for his brother every day.”
Their grief is still fresh, but so is their gratitude. They have learned that joy and sorrow can coexist, that tears can flow even during celebrations, and that sometimes, love is most evident in the smallest victories.
🌈 The Spirit of Alabama and the Strength of Family
Football is deeply rooted in the South, but for the Mosleys, this Saturday’s Alabama–Tennessee game represented more than just a rivalry. It symbolized resilience.
Their baby — once barely the size of a football — was now breathing freely, his lungs finally strong enough to cheer for his team.
They joked that perhaps, one day, Drake might run onto the field himself — clad in crimson and white, playing for the Tide in 2043. But for now, their greatest wish is simply to bring him home.
And so, surrounded by prayers, monitors, and love, they cheer not for touchdowns, but for heartbeats. Not for trophies, but for tomorrows.
✨ A Breath of Hope
Today, Drake remains small — just 3 lbs. 8 oz. — but he is demonstrating daily that strength is not defined by size. His journey carries the weight of two lives, his own and Foster’s.
The Mosleys’ narrative is one of heartbreak and healing, of intertwined loss and love. It serves as a reminder that even when life feels incredibly fragile, hope remains unyielding.
Every parent in the NICU understands this truth: progress is gradual, miracles are subtle, and love — genuine love — manifests in the waiting, in the praying, in the moments between breaths.
As Alabama fans celebrated their victory that night, the most significant win didn’t occur on the field.
It took place in a hospital room — when a tiny baby named Drake Mosley took his first breath independently, proving that even the smallest Crimson Tide fan can possess the heart of a champion.
💛 The baby who shed his oxygen tube on Saturday.
The baby who watched the Crimson Tide take his breath away.
