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When Isabella Soto was born last July 1, 2004, she
was too small for even the preemie clothes. Tiping the scales at
only 14.2 ounces —— making her the second smallest
infant to survive in New Jersey, and the smallest girl ever born
at Saint Barnabas Medical Center —— Isabella s wardrobe
consisted of micro preemie garments and several tiny outfits lovingly
created by one of her four nurses at the Neonatal Intensive Care
Unit (NICU).
She was smaller than a Barbie doll, her mother, Vivian,
recalls. My wedding ring went over her entire wrist and looked
like a bangle bracelet. She looked just like a little bird.
Now almost a year later, Isabella is ready to celebrate
both her christening and her first birthday at a celebratory party
with 200 joyful friends and family members. Her parents and physicians
report that she is meeting every milestone for her corrected age
(subtracting for the three and a half months of prematurity), and
appears to have no residual health problems.
She looks perfect developmentally, says Kamtorn Vangvanichyakorn,
M.D., Clinical Director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. It
is highly unusual for such a baby to be discharged without needing
supplemental oxygen. Isabella has done extremely well.
A Much Wished For Baby
Vivian and Israel Soto had been married for fifteen years before
they were able to overcome fertility problems and become pregnant.
When Vivian, a high-risk antepartum nurse, learned that she had
developed preeclampsia (a pregnancy disorder that is characterized
by high blood pressure), she knew that the baby was not receiving
enough oxygen. An emergency C-section was performed by Ernani
Sadural, M.D., attending obstetrician/ gynecologist at Saint
Barnabas, when the pregnancy was 23 weeks and six days along.
The Sotos feared the worst, especially Vivian, who
knew the many potential complications for such a premature infant.
Despite the dire predictions, Isabella proved to be a fighter,
and her condition steadily improved. She required surgery to close
a heart opening, which normally closes after birth but did not
in this case, but she was otherwise healthy. The Soto family credits
Isabella s recovery to Dr. Kamtorn and the entire NICU staff for
their excellent, compassionate care.
The most difficult part, the Sotos say, was not being
able to hold Isabella for over a month. To compensate, they touched
her using gloves and personalized her isolette with a blanket,
a CD player with lullabies, family photos and colorful plush flowers.
Homecoming
Isabella, who looks just like her father, came home in October
2004 without any supplemental medical equipment. For baby's first
Christmas, the Sotos bought a large tree and a miniature tree,
which was decorated with Isabella's micro preemie clothes. They
plan to continue the clothes tree tradition as a way to celebrate
her growth and continued good health in the face of such an uphill
climb.
We have so much to be thankful for, says Vivian.
Isabella is doing fantastically well thanks to the wonderful NICU
staff and so many prayers of support.
To find out more about the Department of
Pediatrics at Saint Barnabas Medical Center and the NICU, please
call
1-888-724-7123.
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