Methodist Health System | Methodist Richardson Medical Center | Shine | Fall 2015

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“I said, ‘God, You know what I
can handle. I just don’t want her to
have surgeries,’” Estela says.
Overcoming obstacles
Estela’s prayers were answered:
Angelik didn’t need surgery —
but she still had a number of
health issues.
“One of her struggles was
breathing,” says Lilian St. John, MD,
neonatologist on the Methodist
Richardson medical staff. The NICU
staff also worked to keep her blood
pressure up, ensure she received
sufficient nutrition, and keep her
warm and hydrated, something
difficult to do with the infant’s
underdeveloped skin.
“Fortunately, Angelik healed
quickly and went home two
weeks earlier than anticipated,”
Dr. St. John says.
Finding family in the NICU
Dr. St. John says that Methodist
Richardson’s care for premature
babies starts with their mothers.
“Our NICU team works closely
with our labor and delivery colleagues
to prepare for high-risk deliveries,”
she says. “We have a wonderful
team — doctors, nurse practitioners,
nurses, respiratory therapists, speech
and occupational therapists, lactation
consultants, and others — all dedicated
to delivering compassionate care.”
The nurses also included Angelik’s
parents in her care.
“Through this process, we bond
with our families, and they become
a part of our Methodist Richardson
family,” Dr. St. John says.
Filled with gratitude
The Tobiases felt that sense of family.
As they had relocated to Ennis and
were still caring for a child with
special needs, their visits to the
NICU were rarer than they would
have liked. They were impressed with
the staff ’s care and compassion.
“She’ll be all right, Mommy,” one
nurse encouraged Estela. “You just
count this girl as a miracle.”
Finally, in late March, Angelik’s
stay in the NICU came to an end.
Estela says she’d turn to Methodist
Richardson again should she have
another little one. In the meantime,
this mom is counting her blessings.
“I thank God for Leonardo and
Angelik,” Estela says. “They’re
successful preemies.”
A family
of care
When an infant is admitted to
the neonatal intensive care unit
(NICU), families rely on the care
and compassion of the nursing
staff. At Methodist Richardson
Medical Center, our nurses go
above and beyond to offer family-
centered care from admission to
discharge. NICU nurses:
w w Are available every minute of
every day to ensure the highest
level of care
w w Show families how to hold,
cuddle, and rock their newborns
w w Teach mothers to breastfeed
for the first time
w w Are skilled at teaching diaper
changing, even for the
smallest infants
w w Act as an advocate and go-
between to make sure families
understand baby’s care
w w Help parents navigate NICU
technologies and treatments
w w Comfort and care for infants
even when the parents can’t
be there
w w Create precious mementos
with the baby’s handprints
and footprints.
“They love what they do,”
says Harold Magee, RN, nurse
manager of children’s services
at Methodist Richardson. “They
build a relationship with babies
and parents to create a family
environment and, in doing so,
comfort families.”
— Continued from page 9
PRECIOUS MOMENTS
More information about our Level III NICU is
just a click away at
Angelik Tobias’ baptism in July was a chance for her family to celebrate the blessing of her
life and health after being born prematurely.
10 Methodist Richardson Medical Center • ❁ Fall 2015