Community Connection Newsletter

Summer, 2011

People Who Care:
Paying It Forward for Baby Sam

The typical life of a premature baby has only one predictable pattern: two steps forward, one step back. This became clear to Melissa Harris and Peter Odum when their son, Sam, was born at 24 weeks’ gestation, a mere 1 pound, 12 ounces—healthy but fragile.

Over the course of his 94 days in Alta Bates Summit Medical Center’s Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Sam endured surgery to repair a small hole in his heart, laser surgery to prevent blindness, blood transfusions, breathing tubes and endless pokes and prods. He also grew steadily, learned to nurse, hit key developmental milestones and, finally, blissfully smiled.

Such are the ups and downs that both bless and plague parents of preemies, as well as their caregivers. The saving grace, says Melissa, is the remarkable staff who do their jobs while simultaneously comforting, encouraging and educating stressed and worried parents. Lotte Korsholm, R.N., made a special birthday card from Sam to his big sister, Irene, on her birthday; lactation consultant Deborah Busta-Moore, R.N., helped Melissa accomplish her goal of breastfeeding; and Pamela Hefferman, R.N., cracked jokes just when the tension seemed unbearable. Most notable of all, Laura Rutherford, R.N., the primary nurse assigned to Sam, became so close to Melissa that the two continued their friendship even after Sam went home.

Laura, who has worked in the NICU for almost 30 years, says the key to meeting the needs of both babies and parents is teamwork by a wide range of professionals. “The families build a relationship not just with physicians and nurses, but also social workers, nutritionists and respiratory therapists,” she says. “We discuss with parents exactly what’s going on every step of the way and keep the lines of communication open so their fears can be addressed.”

On the day Sam finally went home, Melissa cried from relief and joy, but also grief at leaving the people who had become like family. As a way to give back, she volunteered to participate in Alta Bates’ new Family Advisory Council, a group of former NICU parents, staff and administrators who help support parents and advise the hospital on matters related to premature infants.

“It’s a way to help improve the experience for other parents and also say thank you to this hospital,” says Melissa. “I’m grateful that if I had to go through this experience, I got to do it with these people.”