Denise was admitted to St.Vincent Women’s Hospital a week before her son Tyler’s birth. She was in danger of going into labor prematurely, and bed rest was required to help her give Tyler a fighting chance. But Denise’s high blood pressure required the staff to take action.

Tyler was born by emergency caesarean section at just 31 weeks’ gestation. He weighed two pounds and 15 ounces.
 

While the staff of the Newborn Intensive Care Unit saw to Tyler’s needs, other doctors and nurses were there for Denise. She spent three days unconscious as a team of physicians and nurses worked to lower her critically high blood pressure. On day four Denise awoke and saw her son for the first time.

Tyler’s recovery wasn’t quite as fast, but he was a fighter who grew stronger daily. He was on a ventilator for 10 days. And after a total of six weeks in the NICU, he was able to come home.
 

Tyler is now 12 years old.

Denise still appreciates what the St.Vincent Women’s Hospital was able to do for her family. “I can’t say enough wonderful things about the NICU. They take care of you. They tell you exactly what’s going on. The doctors were wonderful. They saved my life and the life of my son.”

Today Tyler lives a normal life. Like many kids, he has asthma that is treated with medicine. “He does everything that any normal child would do,” says Denise. “He plays. He runs. He gets dirty. He has a great time. He’s very, very intelligent.”