Tori Chapman couldn’t wait to welcome her daughter into the world. She chose the name Eliana – with the nickname “Ellie” – because it means “God answered my prayers.” The meaning became more powerful in the weeks after Ellie’s birth.
Tori checked into the Labor & Delivery unit at Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center on a September morning. As she labored, Ellie stayed still. That afternoon, Tori delivered Ellie in 18 minutes, with a doctor from the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) standing by.
Ellie didn’t cry. Her umbilical cord was wrapped around her ankle, preventing her movement. More concerning, she had inhaled meconium, or amniotic fluid mixed with her stool. Tori held Ellie briefly before the baby was rushed to the NICU. Meanwhile, doctors cared for Tori, who had lost four times the amount of blood typical in delivery.
“I had envisioned birth like you see in the movies,” Tori said. “You give birth, they give you your baby and then you go home.”
Yet Tori had faith that Ellie was in the safest hands with the Shady Grove Medical Center team. The NICU doctor explained Ellie needed a blood transfusion. Before and after the transfusion, the doctor prayed over Ellie. In that moment, Tori knew the providers cared as much as she did.
“They really took the extra time to make her as comfortable as possible in a situation that was the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through,” she said.
Ongoing Support
“The Birth Center team is committed to providing not just world-class medical care, but also emotional and spiritual support for every family,” said Amber Richter, RN, director of Women’s and Infants’ Services at Shady Grove Medical Center.
When Tori could finally hold her baby girl, it made her heart sing. Still, these early days held overwhelming stress. Tori went home while Ellie remained in the NICU showing signs of pulmonary hypertension, or danger with her lungs and heart. Tori’s fear caused her to have headaches and high blood pressure. Early one morning, Tori stretched her arms and froze. She was having a seizure. Emergency services rushed her to Shady Grove Medical Center.
Tori spent a week in the hospital, around the corner from the NICU. Soon, both mother and daughter were cleared to go home. Tests showed Ellie’s lungs were healthy. Tori’s blood pressure returned to normal.
“When the team found out, they were so excited for us,” Tori said. “It felt like family.”
Giving Back
Now 2, Ellie is thriving as an early crawler, walker and talker. She loves reading with her mom, snuggling up to favorites like The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Goodnight Moon.
“She amazes me every single day,” Tori said.
Tori is forever grateful for the care that she and Ellie received at Shady Grove Medical Center. Tori now serves on the hospital’s Patient and Family Advisory Council, which gives ideas and suggestions to ensure the best patient experience.
“I feel like this is a small way that I can give back to a hospital that has literally given me everything,” she said.
To discover the range of maternity care at Shady Grove Medical Center, visit AHCYou.com/W26Baby. Find out how you can serve an Adventist HealthCare Patient and Family Advisory Council at AHCYou.com/W26PFAC.
