We never knew there were so many people so skilled at saving lives

My daughter, Sidney, was born at Bronson on January 28, 2001 at 24 weeks gestation and weighing 1 pound, 3 ounces. I had been admitted on a Wednesday due to low amniotic fluid and diagnosed with Preeclampsia/Toxemia. By Sunday, my blood pressure was under control and I was beginning to produce amniotic fluid again – I was planning to go home on bed rest. That morning, I was rushed into surgery for an emergency c-section because the umbilical cord was wrapped around Sidney’s neck. Sidney resided in the Bronson’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for 102 days and came home on her due date, May 9, 2001.

The care that Sidney, as well as my husband and I, received during our stay was astonishing. We never knew there were so many people so skilled at saving lives and so generous with their compassion. Sidney’s nurses (Gretchen, Sue, Deb and Ann) and doctors (Purdy, Rimmke,Pierucci and Malin) treated her with such care and love and always kept us informed of what was happening with her. It was a long battle with lots of ups and downs but we always knew the whats, whys and hows of her treatment. Thankfully, our strong, stubborn baby won the fight and graduated from the NICU. The day we went home was a very happy day but was tinged with sadness at the thought that these wonderful people couldn’t continue with us on our journey.

But then the continued care we received from others in the Bronson family was just as wonderful. Dr. LaRue and Dr. Bejcek at Bronson Rambling Road Pediatrics picked up where the hospital staff left off. I cannot say enough about these two doctors who helped us navigate Sidney’s continuing health issues and raise a happy, healthy young woman. We also saw several specialty providers and therapist along the way and several hospital stays for various lung ailments. We always had the utmost confidence in the care that Sidney received (and continues to receive).