Pregnancy Care: Pache's Story
November 27, 2019How Experts Helped Pache and Her Baby Overcome a Life-threatening Condition
"Dr. Levenson and Dr. Broth's quick diagnosis and knowledge of this rare condition [HELLP Syndrome] saved my life and the life of my daughter. Avery is our miracle baby." -Pache Rogers, pictured with her husband, Kenny and daughter Avery.
Twenty-three weeks into her pregnancy, Pache Rogers knew something was wrong.
“I was a big eater throughout my pregnancy,” said Pache, who was looking forward to a routine sonogram. “I always wanted to eat, so when my stomach started to bother me at work and I lost my appetite, I felt something was off.”
That evening the pain became severe enough for Pache's husband Kenny to take her to the Emergency Center at Holy Cross Hospital, where Courtney Levenson, MD, obstetrics and gynecology, Holy Cross Hospital, quickly diagnosed her with HELLP syndrome. The pain Pache was experiencing was her liver shutting down.
“HELLP syndrome is a rare, life-threatening complication of pregnancy associated with liver malfunction, but it can be diagnosed quickly with relatively simple blood tests,” said Dr. Levenson. It is a condition that we always watch for due to its severity, and because appropriate and rapid intervention can prevent severe and devastating complications for both mother and baby.”
"HELLP" is an abbreviation of the three main features of the syndrome: Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes and Low Platelet count.
“When these situations arise, it is critical that all members of the medical team – the high-risk obstetrician, neonatologists, nursing staff and the obstetrician, as well as the parents – are prepared when it is time to deliver the baby.” said Dr. Levenson.
Dr. Levenson, working in tandem with Richard Broth, MD, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Holy Cross Hospital, explained the condition in detail to Pache, and answered all her questions.
The day after her admission to the hospital, Pache's condition became critical, and the baby needed to be delivered immediately by Cesarean section. Within an hour, the Rogers' first baby girl, Avery, was born at 23 ½ weeks, weighing a little less than a pound.
“Dr. Levenson and Dr. Broth's quick diagnosis and knowledge of this rare condition saved my life, and the life of my daughter,” said Pache. "Avery is our miracle baby. She was so tiny when she was born I could fit my wedding ring around her ankle. Her skin was almost translucent.”
99 Days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Avery spent 99 days in Holy Cross Hospital's Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), which is equipped with state-of-the-art technology to care for babies who are born early or have medical problems. Holy Cross Hospital and Holy Cross Germantown Hospital deliver 10,000 babies a year. Holy Cross Hospital delivers more babies and cares for more newborns with complex medical issues than any other hospital in Maryland or the District of Columbia.
“The care in the NICU was fantastic," said Pache. "When we couldn't get to the hospital, we could watch Avery online through NICVIEW, and the nurses would leave notes in the camera's view that said things like, 'Mommy, I ate all 10 milliliters!’”
NICVIEW is a camera system that provides a secure video stream so that families are able to watch their baby's progress on their smartphones, or any web-enabled device.
"Gestures like that really touched our hearts," said Pache. "They took such good care of Avery, and cared about us as well.”
Avery made steady progress. She gained weight, became less dependent on her oxygen support and transitioned from a feeding tube to a bottle. “The first time I held her to my chest, skin to skin, I was overwhelmed,” said Pache. “I was so happy to finally hold her. Holy Cross was truly a home away from home, a place where we always felt welcomed."
Avery's Life Moves Forward at Home
On day 100, the Rogers were finally able to take Avery home, and today Avery is a thriving 2 year old. “It was a rollercoaster, but we were blessed,” said Pache.
Blessed times three it would turn out, as the couple welcomed twins into the world a year later, and there was no doubt about where they would be delivered.
“The twins were also born early and spent 10 days in the NICU at Holy Cross Hospital," said Pache. "It was like a homecoming. We saw the same nurses, the same doctors and they provided the same excellent care for our twins.”
Dr. Levenson was there too, at Pache’s side, to deliver the twins. “All three children are now home, doing extremely well and keeping their parents busy,” said Dr. Levenson.