Letters to the Editor

Angels save life

On Feb. 17, I had many angels looking out for me. I was pregnant with my first child and had to be rushed to the hospital for an emergency C-section. I had a severe case of HELLP syndrome. Dr. Stan Ottinger and the nurses at St. Francis saved my life.

I was in the ICU for several days, and my son was rushed to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at MUSC. He was born at 25 weeks, weighed 1 pound 11 ounces and was considered a micropreemie. I was able to see him for the first time a week after he was born.

The NICU can be a cold, sterile and scary place with a lot of beeps, machines and isolettes (incubators). It is the staff that brings it life. The neonatalogists, NNPs, nurses and staff were so professional and kindhearted. They not only helped give us medical care but also loving care, attention, hope and support. The nurses answered all of my questions and helped me gain knowledge so I could understand all of the beeps, tests and procedures.

I felt like I had a nursing crash course and tried to soak up as much information as I could. We were on a roller coaster ride for 118 days.

You never truly realize how precious life is until you almost lose your own and your child's. It is amazing what modern medicine can do and I was able to watch my son develop. I was told that if he had been born five years earlier, he would not be here today. Modern medicine works wonders, but I also have a deep faith in God. My faith was able to give me daily strength to endure four months in the NICU. We were so fortunate that we have a great network of friends and family who loved, prayed and supported us through it all.

I will never be able to truly express my gratitude to Dr. Ottinger and everyone at the NICU. Their professionalism, compassion and goodness have touched me and all of my family. We are truly blessed and are so thankful to have so many guardian angels living amongst us.

CHARLOTTE EDWARDS

Affirmation Boulevard