A couple who met in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) as premature babies has sealed their lifelong connection by getting married.
Hayden and Rachel Sackey, both 28, were born just 10 days apart in July 1996 at Corewell Health’s NICU in Dearborn in Michigan.
Their mothers, Audra Sackey and Sherry Krambeck, bonded in the hospital as their newborns faced early health struggles.
Over the years, a lifelong friendship grew between their kids, Hayden and Rachel—one that would later turn into love.
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Recently married in September, the Sackeys returned to the NICU where they first met – this time as husband and wife.
Rachel and Hayden visited some of the same nurses who cared for them as infants. Hayden described the experience as “surreal,” reflecting on how their story came full circle.
Rachel and Hayden’s relationship began with years of friendship.
Growing up, they saw each other at birthdays and holiday reunions organized by their families, who remained close even after Rachel’s family moved to Indiana in 2006.
The romantic spark came later when Hayden needed a date for his senior prom in 2014, and Rachel’s mother suggested her daughter go with him.
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That night marked the start of their romantic journey, and Rachel recalls how naturally they connected, telling The Detroit News: “We clicked instantly, and the rest is history.”
Though separated by distance for years, the couple maintained a strong bond.
Rachel said: “There was just always a connection, even before we started dating.”
After a decade together, including six years of long-distance, they married and settled in Northville, Michigan.
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And the serendipitous nature of their stories doesn’t end there. Both Hayden and Rachel were inspired by their own NICU journey, with Rachel becoming a neurology nurse and her mother, Sherry Krambeck, becoming a nurse as well.
Now looking forward to starting a family of their own, the Sackeys hope their story inspires others.
Rachel said: “We’re grateful for every part of our journey, and we’ve learned not to take a single moment for granted.”
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