Woman Gives Birth and Walks at Her Doctorate Graduation Within 24 Hours

Abby Bailiff, a 28-year-old girl, has recently welcomed her baby boy, Bodie, into the world. But this tale is more extraordinary because Abby had just earned her nursing doctorate degree the very same day. Abby’s story of courage and bravery will touch you and prove that there’s nothing impossible.

The timing was perfectly imperfect.

With her due date initially set for April 27, Abby’s anticipation grew with each passing day. The upcoming graduation ceremony, set on May 4, added an extra layer of excitement and nerves. “Every day past 40 weeks, I was like, ’Oh gosh. This is getting closer and closer,’” Abby shared.

To ensure the well-being of both herself and her precious little one, Abby underwent induction on May 2, as the medical experts expressed concerns about Bodie’s lung development. Little did Abby know that her detailed plans would take an unexpected turn. “It was not the original plan to be that close to graduation... but Bodie had other plans,” she revealed with a mix of surprise and joy.

She couldn’t give up on her dream.

Deciding whether to attend her graduation ceremony was a tough choice for Abby. “I was still debating on whether I was going [to graduation] or not because I didn’t want to be, like, a bad mom and just up and leave him right when I got home,” shared Abby. However, something shifted within her, and Abby realized this was a milestone she couldn’t miss. Her sister and mom stood by her side, encouraging her to go.

Less than two hours later, Abby stepped into her graduation ceremony. It was a surreal moment, almost as if the universe conspired to make her dream a reality precisely 24 hours after welcoming Bodie into the world.

Her husband and newborn son were with her there.

As Abby confidently walked across the stage, her husband and little Bodie joined the celebration online. While the joyous occasion was bittersweet without their physical presence, it didn’t ruin the day for Abby. “Once I got there and I walked in, I was like, I’m so glad I came. It was an overwhelming feeling of accomplishment. I can’t even describe the feeling I felt. I was just overjoyed,” shared Abby.

She worked really hard to deserve it all.

During the last precious months of her pregnancy with Bodie, Abby was studying, working full-time, and taking night shifts at work to attend university during the day. “I worked really hard to do it all and to accomplish my dreams and goals. And it was all for Bodie,” Abby said.

Her dedication didn’t go unnoticed.

Abby’s commitment to her studies was appreciated at her university. The dean of her school shared:

“The commencement ceremony represents the start of a new role or career. The fact that Dr. Abby Bailiff felt so compelled to attend her ceremony after years of study for her DNP degree represents her resilience, perseverance, passion, and dedication to her school, classmates, and family,” Barksdale said. “Graduation is a joyous time and a highlight of the academic journey. We are so proud of all our students, but especially those who defy the odds to achieve their dreams.”

If you want to read more stories about incredible mothers, check out our article about a woman from Uganda giving birth to 44 children and the story of a single mom giving birth to 8 kids at once. And here’re more stories of female first-ever pilots, first-ever fitness influencers, and the real-life Snow White.