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Regional doctors shined, times three
Published Thursday, June 5, 2008
I was recently paged 911 to the Riverland emergency room because a patient of Dr. Kumi’s — for whom I am taking calls — came to their E.R. saying, “My baby is coming!”
She also said that she was six months pregnant with triplets.
I would have had trouble believing this except before Dr. Kofi Kumi left for Ghana he told me that he had a patient with triplets that was about 25 weeks estimated gestational age. She had been doing well, and hopefully I wouldn’t hear from her while he was gone. Surprise!
Unfortunately, she was in advanced pre-term labor. Arrangements had already been made for her to be transferred immediately to Natchez Regional Medical Center via ambulance, and I agreed to accept her in transfer.
I notified labor and delivery of the situation and told them to gather the troops. L&D notified the nursery, the pediatricians, anesthesia, the operating room crew, and respiratory therapy. The news spread like wildfire and everyone began getting prepared.
For those who are not in the healthcare field, 25 week triplets that are about to deliver unexpectedly and just on the brink of survival is one of the highest risk obstetrical and pediatric problems you can imagine, even in a metropolitan tertiary care center. You realistically need about a week to get everything and everybody ready, and we literally had minutes.
On arrival the situation described was confirmed and a quick ultrasound confirmed triplets all with good heart rates, except the one coming out was having decelerations (a drop in heart rate which can be a sign of distress). While I was assessing the patient, the L&D nurses, the operating room crew, the lab technicians and anesthesia were getting the patient ready for C-section. I don’t know where all the help came from. There were senior level-management nurses that had come from all over helping get the patient and the nursery ready. Dr. Danita Weary and Dr. Jennifer Russ were present and were discussing with the nursery nurses and respiratory techs where each infant would go, what ventilators would be used, etc.
The patient and the mother were quickly informed of what was happening, and the very real chance of a poor outcome for the triplets. Jodi Starr, an excellent nurse anesthetist at NRMC, quickly anesthetized the patient while the rest of the operating room crew got the patient ready for surgery in record time. We then rapidly performed a C-section, delivering the three tiny infants. They were squirming and gasping for air with their premature lungs as they each struggled for life. The first infant was a little girl that weighed one and one half pounds and was halfway through the birth canal on her way out, feet first. I told the nurses that was just like a women to be impatient, cause problems and try to be first. They responded that the boys were probably pushing her out. The two boys came easily, both weighing one pound 6 ounces, and each was handed off one by one to the awaiting pediatricians.
The C-section was the easy part. The magic began when the infants were rushed to the nursery. Dr. Weary and Dr. Russ were incredible. They stayed cool and calm in a situation that would have been easily overwhelming to many. They orchestrated an amazing resuscitation effort. Each tiny infant, with the assistance of the nursery nurses, respiratory therapist, x-ray technicians, and lab technicians was intubated, placed on a ventilator, had IV access obtained with umbilical artery catheters, and monitored with EKG, Pulse Oximeter, blood pressure and temperature monitors.
When I came out of the operating room to see if any of the triplets had made it and to offer to help in anyway, I was amazed at what I saw. The last infant had just been intubated and the tube was being secured in place. At each of the three stations there must have been four to five health care members attending each tiny infant and harmoniously and frantically working to save there lives. It was an incredible sight to witness. A feeling of pride swept over me for being part of this 30-plus member team that had come together to attempt a miracle.
I then went from station to station and to my astonishment each tiny infant was not only alive but had oxygen saturations of 100 percent and was as stable as you could have wished for in 25 week triplets that were roughly one and one half pounds each. The team continued to work diligently over the next several hours systematically stabilizing the triplets and getting them ready for transfer. Later in the day, the University of Mississippi helicopter landed on the new helipad behind the hospital and the three little tiny lives were air lifted to UMC Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in stable condition and doing well. It needs to be known that the doctors and staff of NRMC insist on this level of excellent care and in no way will allow the financial condition of the hospital to affect how we care for our patients.
Dr. Weary, Dr. Russ, and the entire NRMC staff should be commended on a job excellently done. They are truly gifted individuals and give excellent, compassionate care to their patients. They are also a quiet, meek group and if I would have not shared this event you would likely never hear about it. Everyone hears about who won the last big game or the last election, but not of the miraculous outcomes or our team. To these guys it is just another day at work, and the real reason we chose this profession.
I appreciate and thank everyone involved, and am proud to have worked by your side.
Frank Guedon, M.D., is a obstetrician and gynecologist.
Comments
Posted by snatchez (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 6:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
way to go Natchez Regional. It shows it still is the best place to go for medical care, but i wonder if the mother had insurance or is it another free care patient.
Posted by supermom (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 7:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This was not about if the mother had insurance or not........
This is a wonderful article, that shows what amazing Doctors we have here and how well prepared the staff at the hospital is.
JOB WELL DONE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by hopefloats (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 7:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow that article brought me to tears!
Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 7:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great story! Congrats to all involved with this miracle!
Posted by chrimberly (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 8:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That's amazing. I wish I could see the little babies!
Posted by brandy2006 (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 8:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you ND, that was a great story!!
The mother had to be scared to death to know that her babies had a 50/50 chance of survival. Praying for a fast recovery of the mother and her children...
I am proud of Ntz. Regional they do have alot of Great Nurses!
PS- About the insurance part "grow up please and its nobodies business if she did or didn't have insurance"
Posted by MamaC (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 8:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
WOW! What an amzaing story. "Thanks" for sharing that with us. We need to all put this Mother and these babies on our Church Prayer List. I'm so happy it had a happy ending. Also ~ "Congratulaitons" to all the Dr.s, Nurses and staff who were involved in this miraculous event BUT, the biggest "Thank You" goes to God ~ How good He is!!!!
As for the Insurance Issue, that shouldn't even be part of this story. It isn't any of our business and how in the world could you even think of $$$ when we're talking about 3 precious lives. God have mercy on whoever you are with such a shallow heart & mind.............
Posted by thetruthhurts (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 9:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great article... inspiring.... there is always going to be a negative in the group..... no matter what.....well said "mamac"
Posted by thetruthhurts (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 10:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Miracles, by the grace of GOD, still happen.....
Posted by scarlettohara (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 10:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I gave birth to my children at Regional, and Dr. Guedon's assessment is right on! I vividly remember being wheeled down the hall on a gurney and seeing the team getting ready to take care of me (c-section).
They were so kind to me and put me immediately at ease. And, I noticed right away what a cohesive and professional team these folks were. The surgical nurses were top notch in every way, as were all the other members of the team. I could not have had a better experience at any other hospital.
I hope all the medical professionals that took care of me are still employed. Each would be a huge loss to the hospital!
Posted by fonkeytowngirl (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 10:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I would like to commend the NRMC group for a job well done!!! You don't hear about things like this in the paper and it's always the negative things that get media attention so I really appreciated reading this article. I was also brought to tears by it. These doctors do deserve a little attention and applause for being able to remain calm and handle the situation delicately. There's not enough words to express the appreciation that I have for doctors like this. And I would also like to comment about the situation on whether or not she had insurance. It doesn't matter if she did or didn't have insurance. These are people's lives that were at stake and it is very heartless of a person to even think about something like this at this time. So sad!!!
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 11:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is living proof there are great people that work at NR to have handled such an emergency with such devotion to the care of a patient. They know their job and with eagerness they are ready to be called upon at any given moment. God has sent us a miracle, showing us that this place needs to be saved regardless of how the higher-ups have mis-managed it. Thanks to a great team working together for one cause, the hospital may be saved and all the workers will be called back to duty.
Posted by lilredhead (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 12:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank God for all of the dedicated staff that helped bring these tiny miracles into the world. God hold these precious angels in your loving hands, please help them to grow strong and healthy. It makes me so proud to have Dr. Weary and Dr. Russ as my children's pediatricians. Thank you!
Posted by sobeit (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 12:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As an ex-employee of NRMC (retired) I would expect nothing less of the NRMC staff - they are the greatest!
Posted by dixiemama (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 12:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Great story. I hope the ND keeps us updated on these babies. A happy baby story always brings smiles to the old & young. Now as for the status of the Mother's insurance or however she paid that's really her personal business. We should all just be thankfully she & her babies are doing ok.
My five children and four grandchildren were all born at NRMC or as it was called when my kids were born Jeff Davis Memorial. I can say first hand the staff in L&D is excellent.
Posted by frogprincenessntz (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 3:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A big hat's off and well done to all the medical professionals involved in this great miracle. I pray that the little ones survive to become adults who grew up hearing how these special people pulled them through this ordeal. I also pray that these special people are allowed to continue their work at our hospital and that it begins to prosper.
Posted by snoopy (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 4:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What a blessing. If anyone has ever had a preemie or knew someone who had one they know what I'm talking about. May God continur to be with them.
Posted by dedicatednurse (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 5:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This was a great article. Thank you to Dr. Guedon for recognizing all the staff that was involved. I just recently moved from Natchez after working at NRMC in L&D. I loved my job and all my coworkers. They all are very caring and competent with their duties. I just happened to be up in L&D to visit the nurses that day while the mother was in surgery. I watched as everyone pulled together to save all 3 babies. I was very proud of all of them. To everyone at NRMC L&D and nursery I want to say I miss you and I love you all!!!!! Erinn
Posted by crystal0429 (anonymous) on June 6, 2008 at 12:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow, this article was really touching! First of all, triplets, wow... I cant even imagine having 3 at one time! Second, Congrats to the mom and dad... I hope they have plenty of help..lol. Then last, to the person, worried about insurance, it doesnt matter how it was handled, this is 3 beautiful babies we are talking about!
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