NICU baby cared for by same doctor as mom, 24 years later

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Mar 14, 2022, 13:22 ET

WARRENVILLE, Ill., March 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lizzie Reese was 26 weeks pregnant when she flew from Texas to Illinois to visit her sisters and newborn nieces.

Soon after arriving in Illinois for the family visit, however, Lizzie did not feel well.

Garrett and Lizzie Reese, with their son Nolan. Nolan was born prematurely at Edward Hospital in Naperville, Ill., and was cared for by the same physician that took care of his mother when she was born prematurely at the same hospital.

"The morning after I arrived, I went to an urgent care and they quickly identified that something wasn't quite right and sent me to the emergency room," she says.

Reese went to Edward Hospital in Naperville, Ill., part of the NorthShore – Edward-Elmhurst Health system in suburban Chicago. It's also where she was born in 1997.

Reese was told she would stay in the hospital until she delivered the baby because her water broke. Her husband, Garrett, was granted emergency leave from the military, rescheduled his training and drove to Illinois with their dog, Blakely.

The couple's son, Nolan Reese, was born at 29 weeks. Once in the NICU with her newborn, Reese's circle got closer.

After she was born 24 years ago, Reese spent eight days in the Edward Hospital NICU. Her neonatologist at the time was Bob Covert, M.D., an independent neonatologist and medical director of the Edward Hospital NICU — the same doctor who was now taking care of Nolan.

"After hearing Lizzie's story, that she grew up here and was a NICU baby herself, I realized that I took care of her," Dr. Covert says. "I hope the connection made Lizzie feel that much more at home with us."

"Aside from the unique connection, we are also just immensely grateful for Dr. Covert because of his expertise and experience in this field," Reese says. "He is an excellent doctor, so responsive to our questions and very proactive in caring for Nolan. It was easy for us to quickly trust in his knowledge and discernment."

In January 2022, Nolan was stable enough to be transported via a medical team to Corpus Christi Medical Center. Kerry Sharar, Edward Hospital case manager, worked with the insurance company, transport team and both hospitals to coordinate the trip. Reese and Nolan flew back to Texas, while Garrett and Blakely drove home towing a freezer of breastmilk.

"From working in a visit from my dog when in antepartum, to Kerry working tirelessly to coordinate a medical transport back to Texas, to all his nurses, especially Inger Malone and Laura Flynn who spent so much time answering all my questions and providing nurture and love far beyond medical care, to all the doctors who work as such a well-designed team, Edward Hospital is unmatched," Lizzie says. "The NICU provided such peace for us as new parents and allowed us to just focus on the joy of our sweet baby. We are eternally grateful."

Get more information at EEHealth.org/services/pregnancy-baby/after-delivery/nicu.

SOURCE Edward-Elmhurst Health