Erica Thomas

    “At 19 weeks gestation, I had my first ultrasound and we found out we were having a boy! Exciting news right? Of course that is until the doctor says the big word ‘BUT,’ as in ‘but your cervix is opening as a woman who is going into labor would do!’ So immediately I was sent to the O.R. at Mercy Hospital Fairfield where I had emergency surgery to sew my cervix closed (also known as a cerclage).

    With only a 40% chance that the procedure would hold me the five more weeks until I was ‘full-term’ at 24 weeks pregnant, I was admitted to University Hospital, recommended because my water had broke and I was ’slowly’ going into labor.

    Upon arrival, precious care and medications were immediately given and because of that ongoing caring, my body held out until I was 27 weeks pregnant. On Sunday Aug. 23 at 2:30 am, I delivered a 2 lbs 15 oz baby boy – but even with the bed rest and excellent care provided, he was 12 weeks early.

   

Ma'Kiah at 7-months

    With his chance of survival only at 40%, the doctors always advise to “prepare for the worse and pray for the best.” Today my son is 9 months old and is doing better than ever! After spending 43 days in the NeoNatal ICU at University Hospital, he came home to me a healthy baby boy with minor issues – he needed no oxygen and no feeding tube.

    Because of the great staff in the NICU, the amazing residents, doctors and nurses, my son Ma’Kiah Thomas-Golomeke is most definitely LIVING PROOF that the professionals at University Hospital are THE BEST at what they do!”

~ Erica Thomas, Hamilton

Recognizing: University Hospital- NNICU staff (especially nurse Karen) and the staff that took care of me while I was on forced bed rest.

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