Catawba Valley Medical Center’s Neonatal Transport Unit is designed to assist families whose newborns need the critical care offered by CVMC’s Level III Neonatal Care Unit.  It is a specialized ambulance equipped with state-of-the-art infant care technology that is capable of transporting infants from medical facilities in outlying areas.  The McNulty family had their first child, Cole, at Caldwell Memorial Hospital and quickly learned about the important role the Unit plays in the region.  Here’s their story, as told by Cole’s father, Chuck:

“My wife, Jeni, went into labor at 33-and-a-half weeks,” said Chuck McNulty.  “Her water had broken, but because we were first-time parents, we weren’t sure what was going on.  We went to Caldwell Memorial to have things checked out, and we learned that she was going into labor.

“Jeni ended up delivering Cole at 2:32 a.m. the next day.  He appeared to be fine at first; he weighed 5 pounds, 9 ounces, which is quite large for a newborn at that stage.  He was breathing and crying, but the medical team noticed immediately that something was wrong.  He had very labored breathing and was having trouble getting enough oxygen.  They monitored his oxygen for a short time, but when it didn’t immediately improve, they called the Neonatal Transport Unit at Catawba Valley Medical Center.
“The Neonatal Transport Unit was up there in no time.  My wife, however, wasn’t going to let him go without her.  She ended up getting discharged two hours after delivery – she should have been in the hospital for at least a day – and I didn’t hear her complain one bit.  I guess you could call that the power of a mother’s love.

“The bedside manner of the Neonatal Transport team is incredible.  We were very upset and concerned, and they answered all our questions.  They’re very knowledgeable and experienced, and it was comforting to know that this was something familiar to them.

“When we arrived at CVMC, Cole was already there and being attended to.  The hospital, too, was very accommodating.  They let us stay in a vacant room so we could be nearby, and they provided us with meal vouchers.  The nurses even took care of my wife; they knew she should have still been in the hospital, so they looked after her as if she were a patient.  It was unbelievable.

“What really impressed me was how the Transport team kept coming back to check on Cole, just to see how he was doing.  They e-mailed us to ask about his progress, even after we went home.  I can’t say enough about that team and everyone we encountered at CVMC – the NICU nurses, physicians, respiratory therapists, everyone.  They were just amazing.

“Cole is 20 months old now, and he’s doing great.  He’s developed asthma and some outdoor allergies, but overall, he’s happy and healthy.  We’re very grateful that the Neonatal Transport Unit was available to us.”