Silver Cross NICU the Best Choice When Marseille’s Couple’s Baby Needed Specialized Care After Birth

When she became pregnant with her first child last year, Stefani DeBenedetti of Marseilles had a choice of hospitals where she could deliver. 

“My doctor was affiliated with Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, and I had heard good things; especially that they had a NICU,” DeBenedetti said. 

“And I thought that was good because you never know. My fiancé, Brett Schultz, and I were both preemies who had to spend time at a Chicago academic medical center after we were born. I am so glad I chose Silver Cross.” 

And during Neonatal Intensive Care Awareness Month in September, knowing Silver Cross has Will County’s first and only NICU – the Amy, Matthew and Jay Vana Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Silver Cross – could be critically important to others as well. 

Signs of Concern

DeBenedetti’s doctor already had been monitoring high blood pressure as she progressed through the latter stages of pregnancy to make sure it didn’t turn into preeclampsia. When she visited Silver Cross for a checkup in her 37^th week, on Aug. 13, things didn’t go as planned. 

“My blood pressure was really high, so they said they needed to take the baby then by C-section,” she said. “We didn’t even have anything packed. We thought we were going to leave and go home and take a nap.” 

DeBenedetti’s nerves didn’t get much better until after the C-section, when she saw nurses cleaning up baby Brooke. The good feelings didn’t last long.

“They handed her to Brett to hold and help clean up, and within about five minutes, she just went limp in his arms. Her lungs weren’t fully developed yet….” 

Great Timing

Thankfully, Silver Cross Hospital’s new NICU had opened only a few weeks earlier.   

If it hadn’t, Brooke would have had to be transported to a Chicago hospital, and it could have been days before DeBenedetti could have seen her baby and how she was doing. 

The 24-bed NICU is located on the third floor of Silver Cross’ new addition on the east side of the hospital, adjacent to the birthing center and features all single-family private rooms. Modeled after and staffed 24/7 by neonatologists from the NICU of Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Silver Cross Hospital’s Level III NICU provides care for seriously ill or very premature newborns. 

Patients are safely cared for by a team of highly skilled neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners, neonatal nurses, therapists, and other caregivers and have immediate access to Lurie Children’s Hospital pediatric medical and surgical subspecialists. 

“We have built a team of the best professionals in the area to provide neonatal intensive care close to home,” said Corryn Greenwood, M.D., neonatologist and Medical Director of the NICU at Silver Cross. 

As it was, DeBenedetti had to wait a few hours until her anesthesia wore off before she could see Brooke. Meanwhile, Schultz was running back and forth between the NICU and his fiancé’s room to give updates and deliver breast milk to the baby. 

“It was really hard not being able to see her right away,” DeBenedetti said. “I can’t imagine what it would have been like if she had to be transferred to Chicago.” 

She added, “Initially, they said Brooke would have to be there two or three days. But they also found she was suffering from pulmonary hypertension, so they wanted to keep her on oxygen. She wound up being there 17 days. The doctors and nurses at Silver Cross were so good. They answered all of our questions and kept us up to date on her condition.” 

DeBenedetti said she and Schultz could have spent more nights in Brooke’s NICU room, large enough for the three of them to rest comfortably. But after a few days, they decided to stay at her mother’s house in Minooka to make sure Brooke got enough rest. 

Time to Go Home

On the 18^th day, Brooke was able to go home to Marseilles with the knowledge from the NICU staff that the pulmonary hypertension would heal as she got used to breathing the air in her home. 

“I am so glad we chose Silver Cross. They were all great, and to have a NICU right there was such a relief.” 

By early September, Brooke was doing much better. And a recent checkup confirmed she was growing stronger all the time. 

“She was 6 pounds, 10 ounces when she was born, and now she’s 9 pounds, 13 ounces. She’s doing great. The next big milestone is her two-month shots. I know I’m going to cry.” 

To help more babies like Brooke, make a charitable donation online to support the NICU or call the Silver Cross Foundation at 815-300-7105.