Family Awaiting Birth Of Sextuplets Showered With Gifts

By STEVE KORNACKI The Tampa Tribune

Published: Aug 26, 2007

LUTZ - Ben Byler couldn't believe the community outpouring of support Saturday at Idlewild Baptist Church. More than 500 visitors, 58 volunteers, 20 vendors and "Inside Edition" turned out for what was billed as Tampa Bay's Biggest Baby Shower.

His wife, Karoline, 29, was at St. Petersburg's Bayfront Medical Center, where she has been for two weeks and will deliver their sextuplets in the next three weeks.

"Do I have a birth date I'm hoping for?" Byler, 30, of Wesley Chapel said, repeating the question. "I'm hoping for Labor Day."

He shook his head and laughed, waving off that comment.

"I'm told most doctors are off on Labor Day," he said.

The Byler babies will be the first sextuplets born on record in the state, according to the Florida Department of Vital Statistics.

Facts About Multiples, an online encyclopedia, lists 13 sets of sextuplets that have been born in the United States and survived to leave the hospital. The only set born in the Southeast was the 2002 Harris sextuplets of Birmingham, Ala.

The most recent set of six were born June 11 in Phoenix to Jenny and Bryan Masche of Lake Havasu City, Ariz. Jenny Masche carried them 30 weeks and four days, and Karoline Byler will reach the 29th week Tuesday.

"Karoline is doing very well and they're not going to let her go past 32 weeks with the delivery," Byler said. "Their brain development is done, their lungs are close to fully developed and we're right up on what they consider a good time for the babies at 30 weeks."

They wanted to grant their 4-year-old daughter Zoe's request for a sibling. After using fertility drugs to balance Karoline's hormones for her to ovulate, they are expecting five boys and a girl.

"We're going from one grandchild to seven in one shot," said Jack Kiewra, Karoline's father.

His wife, Patty, added, "This is extremely exciting. We're still in a little shock over it, and it's coming quick. I am the oldest of 11 children, though. We're used to crowds."

'Inside Edition' Covering Family

Ben Byler said they signed an exclusivity contract with "Inside Edition," the syndicated news magazine that airs at 7 p.m. weekdays on WFTS, Channel 28.

"Today and the press conference after the births are the only times we can do anything for any other TV media," he said. "That will last until two days after 'Inside Edition' airs its report. But we can do anything with print and radio media."

"Inside Edition" producer Chris Dukas covered the shower with a film crew, which got footage of Byler hugging his daughter next to an Elmo and Hello Kitty that appeared courtesy of Cotton Candy Entertainment of Tampa.

The couple has picked out two names: MacKenzie Margaret and Brady Christopher. Byler said they also are leaning toward the names Eli and Jackson. Patty Kiewra said Derek, Ryan and Charlie are getting strong consideration.

Meals, Generator Among Gifts

Event organizer Eva Lobel, a member at Idlewild Baptist, met Karoline Byler at the Moms Club of Wesley Chapel South. The Bylers are members of a Catholic church.

"I just wanted to help the family and I knew they would need it," Lobel said. "I wanted to bless them with what we could do, and the church donated the space, tables and chairs."

Byler drives a Pepperidge Farms route five days a week from 4 a.m. to noon, and appreciated the community stepping up to help meet needs. Diapers, he said, will cost $1,000 per month.

Shower visitors donated clothing, diapers, baby wipes, services, checks and gift cards.

Let's Eat of New Tampa and Trinity donated ready-made meals for one year, while Internal Medicine & Pediatrics of Tampa Bay supplied six months of in-home wellness care and Ierna's Heating & Cooling of Lutz gave a $7,000 generator for backup power.

"Being a mother of three and a pediatric nurse, I could relate to them," said Susan Andrews, owner of the New Tampa Let's Eat and co-owner of the Trinity location with Diane Burr. "I saw a flier for the shower and wondered, 'What can we do?'"

A silent auction raised money with donated items such as getaways to the Don CeSar Beach Resort and Spa on St. Pete Beach and Tampa Marriott Waterside and items autographed by Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Devil Rays and Lightning players.

"This day is just amazing and hard to put into words," Ben Byler said.

Researcher Melanie Coon contributed to this report. Reporter Steve Kornacki can be reached at skornacki@tampatrib.com or (813) 731-8170.