AdventHealth Littleton team member helps NICU family find the perfect name for their baby

When Tim and Christine Clarkson went in for Christine’s 34-week checkup, they thought they still had six weeks to prepare for their first child’s arrival. What they didn’t expect was to be told they would need to be admitted to AdventHealth Littleton due to Christine’s high blood pressure. The Clarksons quickly realized their baby boy would be coming much sooner than expected.

“We were totally unprepared,” said Tim. “We hadn’t packed our hospital bags; we hadn’t picked out a name. We thought we still had time.”

On August 13, 2025, at just 34 weeks, their son was born. His journey into the world was unexpected—but so was the journey to his name.

Like many parents-to-be, Tim and Christine had spent months discussing names. They even tried a baby-name app that works like a dating app: you swipe until you “match” with your partner.

“We swiped on 2,500 names and only matched on seven,” said Tim. “Going into the hospital, our short list was Emmett, Noah, or Liam.”

“None of them felt right,” said Christine. “And even after he was born, I still wasn’t ready to commit.”

Still, the pressure was on. Family kept asking, nurses gently inquired, and even one doctor joked that if they didn’t choose soon, he would get to pick the name.

Three days into the baby’s NICU stay, speech language pathologist Maggie Palmer stopped by to do an assessment. Maggie has worked at AdventHealth Littleton for 10 years, and loves being a part of a team that supports families and their babies.

Picking up the newborn, she looked at him and said, “He needs a strong name. Are you a Samuel or a Caleb?”

The Clarksons didn’t respond right away. But Maggie’s words lingered. Later, Tim pulled out his phone and looked up the meaning of “Samuel.” The definition stunned him: God has heard.

The story of Hannah from the Bible—who prayed for a child and named him Samuel when her prayers were answered—resonated deeply with the Clarksons. They had prayed fervently for their child as they navigated infertility and IVF. Reading the passage aloud to Christine, Tim broke down in tears. Christine, holding her baby, began to cry too. Looking down at her son, she nodded through the tears and said, “I think his name is Samuel.”

“We had never talked about that name,” said Tim. “We had never crossed it off either. So that day when Maggie came in and suggested it, we really felt like it was just meant to be.”

For the Clarksons, Samuel wasn’t just a name, it was an answer to prayer, a reflection of their faith, and a symbol of hope after years of waiting. His middle name, Richard, honors both sides of the family, connecting him to grandfathers and uncles.

Once they landed on a name, the Clarksons made a fun video announcing it to their friends and family, even thanking Maggie for helping them choose it.

“I felt so honored to have been a part of such a personal time for this lovely family,” said Maggie. “The family interaction is hands down the best part of being in the NICU. I’m so grateful to be a part of their journey!”

Samuel Richard Clarkson spent 10 days in the NICU before being discharged on August 23. Tim and Christine say their memories at AdventHealth Littleton extend far beyond Maggie helping them pick out his name.

“The nurses from labor and delivery, mom/baby, and the NICU were incredible and so supportive,” said Christine. “We even came home with seven pieces of artwork nurses made for Sam and hung up around his bed. We just felt so blessed by all the staff.”

“We couldn’t have asked for a better experience,” said Tim. “Team members in environmental services and in the cafeteria would ask us how we were doing and tell us they were praying for our baby. Strangers in the hallway would smile and say hello. It was those little moments that just encouraged us throughout this whole journey.”

Samuel means God has heard. And for Tim and Christine Clarkson, it perfectly captures the story of their son’s life—one rooted in prayer, faith, and the unexpected beauty of their stay at AdventHealth Littleton.