Five Tiny Miracles Born at Bergan Mercy
|
Article Date: Jan 4, 2010
|
|
|
OMAHA, Neb. – After more than two months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Alegent Health Bergan Mercy Medical Center, Kevin and Jodi McCormick were able to celebrate Christmas at home with their “greatest gifts – their quintuplets.”
The three girls and two boys were born on October 11, 2009, each weighing around two pounds. In order of birth, they are also alphabetical – first came Anna, then Brody, Ciara, David and Ella.
“They are our little miracles,” said Jodi of her babies. Both she and husband Kevin, who live near Sioux City, Iowa, were happy to get everyone home but admit they will miss the friends they’ve made at Bergan Mercy. “They’ve all been so kind and taught us so much. There’s a lot to know when it comes to taking care of preemies,” said Kevin. “They treated us like family and we kind of felt at home.”
The bonds between the McCormicks and their medical teams ran deep. Jodi and Kevin had called Bergan Mercy their home-away-from-home for nearly four months. Jodi spent six weeks and four days on hospital bed-rest before delivery and the babies were in the Bergan Mercy NICU for more than two months. Going home was bittersweet. “We fall in love with the babies but know that going home means they’re well and that’s what we work for,” said Nichole Bennett, the quintuplet’s NICU nurse.
Brody was the first of the quintuplets to go home followed by Ciara a week later. Anna and David were next with Ella to follow shortly after. All were home in time for the holidays.
Kevin and Jodi’s Journey
The journey to this point started months ago when Kevin and Jodi learned they were pregnant with multiples. Jodi, a pediatric nurse who moved into clinic work, sought out Michael Barsoom, M.D., Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine at Alegent Health and Creighton University and Associate Professor at Creighton University. She was familiar with Dr. Barsoom because she had referred her clinic patients to him with positive results.
Barsoom and the McCormicks were focused on staying pregnant for 34 weeks but just short of 30 weeks, the babies decided it was time to come out.
“Typically, the longer the babies stay inside the womb, the better the outcome,” said Dr. Barsoom. “I had been monitoring Jodi closely and I knew something was up the morning the babies were born.”
Teams of doctors and nurses, led by Barsoom, assembled to care for mom and each baby– who were delivered by C-section. As each baby was welcomed into the world, their medical team went to work, taking care of baby A, baby B, baby C, baby D and baby E.
“There are several sets of heroes here,” said Terry Zach, M.D., Director of Neonatology at Alegent Health and Professor of Pediatrics, Chair of Pediatrics at Creighton University. “First and foremost, are the parents. These little babies. And then the nurses, they do the lion’s share of the work.”
Kevin, who had not changed many diapers in his life, is already a pro. The McCormicks say they are blessed with family and friends who have offered to help when needed. Jodi says what they need most right now is privacy as they get settled at home and into a routine that will be new for all of them.
|
Reader Comments |
| |
| There are currently no comments. |
|
|
|
