By Kellie Houx
KHoux@cherryroad.com
NORTH KANSAS CITY — Giggles from toddlers and laughter from parents filled the Prairie View Room at NKC Health Sunday afternoon, Oct. 5.
The party atmosphere was full of celebration. The sort of celebration that comes after a tough beginning for many of the little in the room.
Almost all the kids in the room had a stay in the NKC Health’s neonatal intensive care unit, like Kayla Brinkley’s 1-year-old daughter Lettie.
The Kearney resident said she could have had an early delivery after four-plus years prior when her son Jax decided to arrive at 32 weeks.
“We were in the process of moving back to Missouri and half our stuff had been moved from Nashville,” she said. “We ended up spending 15 days in the NICU there.”
Lettie arrived at 31 weeks and ended up in the NKC Health NICU for 32 days.
“Being at the NICU is incredibly welcoming,” Brinkley said. “I tried to make it feel a little like home. Thee nurses wrote encouraging notes. Day in and day out, they knew our names and cared for us as family. The nurses and doctors really did treat us well.”
Brinkley said the unexplained premature labors shocked her, especially after seeing the high-risk doctor 18 hours prior to Lettie’s birth.
“As heartbreaking as being in the NICU, we had to trust in God’s plan,” she said. “We had a peace. It was difficult, but we found a sweet community.”
Brinkley has even been able to comfort a friend at church who had her baby at 33 weeks.
“I was able to serve her better,” she said. “I am thankful to use the knowledge.”
Christina Deterding, specialty care supervisor, has been with the hospital for 26 years and three years as supervisor.
She smiled at all the families, enjoying a sweet 16 Candyland amalgamation afternoon with cookies, cotton candy and more.
“It feels amazing,” she said. “It’s hard to think that these kids were once critical and now they are healthy and thriving.”
Deterding said each case is individual, but babies may be placed in the NICU for care because they are jaundiced, premature and needing respiratory support.
“It’s such a wide variety,” she said.
The group can help babies 28 weeks and older. Deterding said much of the department’s quality is supported by neonatal nurse pratitioners that are available 24 hours a day in a collaboration with Children’s Mercy Hospital.
“They attend all the high-risk needs,” she explained. “We used to have a five-bed NICU and now we have increased the level of care, adding to our skills. It’s a calling. It’s what we’ve been trained to do. We support the baby, but it’s also the physical and emotional support for the mother too.”
Catherine Bonderer, senior director, maternal child health, has been at NKC for 10 years.
She too is proud of the department’s growth to 18 beds in 16 rooms, to accommodate twins.
Bonderer doesn’t dismiss the difficulties, but like the others, couldn’t be more pleased to see NICU babies thriving.
“The nurses specialize in this field,” she said. “They are learning best practices and being part of the team. There is new advanced equipment, the collaboration with Children’s Mercy … we are making sure we are doing this right.”
Bonderer said there are 50 registered nurses.
“It’s all professional staff,” she said. “We are always looking for ways to encourage hope and healing. The NICU is a special place for precious, tender patients.”
