A Difficult Path to a Happy Ending
Amy Merida was pregnant, just shy of six months to be exact. She had the usual concerns that swim through the mind of expectant mothers, but an accident while checking her mailbox was not one of them.
“It was a few days before Halloween. I was just walking to the mailbox and lost my balance.”
Already a protective mother, she made sure not to fall down on the baby, but that caused for an awkward landing resulting in an ugly break in the bone just above her ankle.
“When the ambulance arrived, the first thing I said was ‘Take me to Seton Williamson.’ I was already a fan of the hospital from a prior visit.”
With a top medical staff, Seton Williamson is a first choice for emergency care and home to a Level II trauma center and a modern maternity unit – all thanks to the support of donors like you. Seton Williamson had everything Amy would need and she was immediately placed under the expert care of Erik Bruce, MD, an orthopedic surgeon.
“He told me the break would never heal without surgery. My first concern was how anesthesia would affect my baby. Dr. Bruce genuinely cared about my fears and spend time explaining my options. Everyone there was just as concerned about the baby as I was.”
Amy chose an epidural, a local anesthesia to block pain during surgery. She and the baby were closely monitored during the successful procedure to set her broken bone – a great relief for Amy and her husband Martin. Now she was determined to recover and walk without crutches before her due date.
Another Unexpected Hurdle
Unfortunately, Amy soon faced another unexpected hurdle. She had kidney stones. So many stones in fact, that urologist Sandeep Mistry, MD, performed surgery to remove them. Again, Amy describes the amazing care she received, from the surgery team to the maternity team to her obstetrician Ingrid Brown, MD.
“Seton Williamson had it all covered. I guess I could have felt bitter about my run of really bad luck, but I never did. I only felt gratitude for this hospital and the people who took care of me and my baby.”
Once home, Amy put all her energy into walking unassisted before her baby arrived. She quickly went from using a wheelchair to two crutches to one crutch. Just one week before the big day, she took her first steps without a crutch.
Lauren was born at Seton Williamson on February 9, 2013.
“It’s a good thing I started walking before Lauren got here because she’s kept me running ever since! I just cannot thank Seton Williamson enough and the people in this community who support this hospital. Your gifts, whether large or small, make a huge difference in others’ lives. They certainly did for my family.”