Houston Dad First in Texas to Hold 26-Week Twins Skin-to-Skin with Wearable Skincubator

A wearable device is making longer kangaroo care possible in one U.S. NICU trial

Dorian Ojemen became the first father in Texas to hold his 26-week twins skin-to-skin while they stayed connected to life-support lines, using a device called the Skincubator at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston. The twins, Silas and Simone, were born August 7, 2026.

This is a human-interest note on emerging neonatal technology, not a product recommendation or medical advice.

What the device does

The Skincubator is a non-electrical, wearable cover designed to bring some of an incubator’s warmth and humidity onto a parent’s chest. It lets fragile preemies receive prolonged skin-to-skin (kangaroo) care without being disconnected from tubes, catheters, and monitors. Early transfers use a retractable pad. The device has FDA Breakthrough Device Designation and is being studied in a clinical trial; Memorial Hermann is the first U.S. hospital to introduce it in the NICU.

Parents described the shift from touching babies only through incubator ports to holding them against their chests as both nerve-wracking and welcome. Clinicians note that skin-to-skin contact can help stabilize heart rate and breathing and support bonding, though the evidence base for extremely preterm infants is still developing.

Background and what changed

Kangaroo care has been promoted for years, yet very small or critically ill infants often receive only short sessions because of temperature control and equipment needs. The Skincubator aims to extend safe contact time. A 2026 study in the American Journal of Perinatology evaluated an earlier version and found successful transfers within a warm, humidified environment. The Houston trial is ongoing.

What to watch next

Families with babies in the NICU can ask their care team about current kangaroo-care protocols and any research studies. Sources include hospital statements, local reporting from Houston outlets, and descriptions of the device’s design and trial status.