HereCare – Linda & Riley’s Story

Linda knew her daughter, Riley, would be born early, she just didn’t know how early.

Around Thanksgiving, Linda went in for a routine ultrasound and her blood pressure was very high. Her doctor advised that she go to the hospital, but it was Thanksgiving and Linda wanted to enjoy the holiday with her 11-month-old son and husband, so she and her doctor discussed keeping an eye on her blood pressure and she would go to the hospital if it didn’t improve by her next appointment.

Her next ultrasound appointment found that her blood pressure was still too high so she went to Ascension Seton Hays right away. Her care team initially tried to delay the delivery so that Riley would have more time to develop, but Linda’s preeclampsia was worsening. The next day, December 6, 2023, at 32 weeks, Linda had a C-section and Riley was immediately taken to the NICU.

This was Linda’s second time to deliver at Ascension Seton Hays, but it was her first time to have a baby in the NICU. Riley was struggling to breathe and eat on her own and Linda was afraid to hold her at first because she was so small and had so many tubes and wires, but Linda was comforted by the amazing support of the nurses in the NICU.

With the help of her mom, Linda was able to visit Riley in the NICU every day. In between visits, Riley’s nurses sent Linda photos and assured her that Riley was doing well. “I cannot thank them enough for everything they did for my family,” Linda said of the NICU nurses.

Riley got to go home shortly after Christmas and Linda still keeps in touch with her primary NICU nurse, Nicole.

Linda was so ready for Riley to come home and although it can be overwhelming to take care of two kids under the age of two, Linda describes it as “hard, fun, and crazy.”

“Even though it’s hard to leave your baby in the NICU, there is no better place for them to be,” says Linda.