When Timothy Weber was born, he weighed 3 pounds 10 ounces and had lungs comparable to those of an 80-year-old with pneumonia.

In December, Weber’s mom entered the hospital due to complications. She stayed there for two weeks — through Christmas and New Year’s — until finally giving birth.

Weber is just one of many “miracle kiddos” supported by Iowa State’s Dance Marathon.

The Weber family, along with others, shared their stories at the “4K For the Kids” event on Sunday.

While the main Dance Marathon event will take place in January, “4K for the Kids” was held on Sunday as an event where people could tell their stories and share how Dance Marathon has affected them. One of those speaking was Weber’s mother.

“The doctors took us in to the NICU a few days before Timothy was born and said ‘Here’s a 1 pound baby, here’s a 2 pound baby… you’ll have something kind of in between.’ Really?” Weber’s mother said.

She gave birth to him at 29 weeks in the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

Weber’s mother compared him to a “skinny rabbit” when he was born as he was able to fit in the palm of her hand. Doctors did not think Weber would make it.

“Our pastor asked, ‘do you want to baptize him?’ and we said ‘no, we’re gonna wait. He’s gonna be OK,’” Weber’s mother said.

The Weber family stayed in Iowa City for a few weeks until they were finally able to return to their home with baby Timothy and an oxygen tank in tow. Weber continued to visit the University of Iowa’s children’s hospital monthly until he was 5 years old.

Holding back tears, Weber’s mother addressed a crowd of Iowa State students at the first ISU Dance Marathon event of the school year.

“We didn’t know about Dance Marathon until Timothy was 3 years old,” she said. “You guys provided meals for us when we didn’t want to leave the floor. You provided so many things for us that we had no idea… so thank you, thank you, thank you.”

18 years later, Weber is a senior in high school and participates in activities that doctors thought he would never be able to enjoy. He runs cross country despite having complications with his lungs and will be a captain for his school’s ice hockey team this year.

During the event, students and community members danced and raced to raise money for the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

Students, miracle families and attendees dressed in costumes and wore capes to go along with the superhero theme. Officers from the ISU and Ames police departments, described as the “real-life superheroes of Ames,” were also in attendance.

Before the actual 4K began, members of ISU DM lined the sidewalk between Beardshear and Curtiss and cheered on the “miracle kiddos” as they raced toward a balloon arch.

After participants finished the 4K, which had multiple obstacles and games placed throughout the route, attendees enjoyed a pancake breakfast.

Of the miracle families that shared their stories, all expressed their appreciation for ISUDM.

“You guys will go on and you will do amazing things,” mother of miracle kiddo Troy Ramsey said. “You’re destined for greatness. We will never forget you. It’s impossible to forget what you do for us.”