Deployed military members, especially parents, often feel the greatest homesickness, missing the comfort and safety of home. This separation can be especially hard on those who miss out on important milestones in their children’s lives—first steps, first words, and even the birth itself.

Skyler Cooper, a Kansas Army National Guard member, exemplified the dedication of military dads. CBS reported that he served for seven months in Kuwait, leaving behind his wife, Cydney, and their two sons, Leighton and Corbett.

While Skyler was away, Cydney was expecting twins. At 33 weeks, she fell ill and gave birth prematurely to twins Emma and Kyla, who had to stay in the NICU. Managing two young boys at home and twins in the hospital left Cydney “hanging on by a thread.” She shared with Good Morning America that she missed Skyler more than ever.

One exhausting day, while visiting her newborn daughters in the hospital, Cydney received a text from Skyler asking about the twins. Moments later, he surprised her by walking into the room with American flag-themed balloons and flowers. Overwhelmed, Cydney’s eyes filled with tears as relief and joy took over. She described her feelings as both shock and immense gratitude in an interview.

Skyler’s surprise didn’t end there. When his sons discovered their dad was home, they burst with excitement. Cydney later shared the reunion on Facebook, reflecting on their “one year of crazy” filled with “thousands of miles, one pregnancy and birth without him, 48,392 Skype calls, a few plane rides, 12 days in the NICU, support from family and friends, and countless tears…” Finally, her soldier had come home.