My family and I have only been only in the Tucson area for the last couple years. When we received the surprise of those two special lines appearing in the over-the-counter pregnancy test, a panic and butterflies set in my stomach because I was unfamiliar with where to receive care here in Tucson. I knew a couple things prior to making any type of phone call; it had been six years since my last pregnancy, and I wasn’t young. I also had prior complications with both of my pregnancies, so I knew I couldn’t just go anywhere. I began to research which hospital was the best in the area and based on the U.S. News & World Report, Tucson Medical Center was a top-listed hospital. I was nervous because I wasn’t familiar with the TMC system, but I took a chance because everything that I had researched pointed to TMC providing the best care for my baby and me.

As I expected, the TMCObstetrics staff provided quality customer service. All the providers I met with were up to speed on my medical history, which had become even more complicated since my last pregnancy. I had recently been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, and they started me on medication and education to eat accordingly for the condition. While this was not my first pregnancy─and I didn’t have many questions─they always pressed on to see if I did have questions. Based on my experience, it is important to be proactive in my care especially since things could get missed by accident. Even though there were many appointments throughout the pregnancy, I knew it was important to make all of them for the sake of the baby girl and myself.

When I finally moved into the third trimester, I could see the finish line. During this time, I did have a non-stress test, which I was curious about since it was the first time that I had done that for any of my pregnancies. I took mental notes on what the nurse was telling me about what they were looking for, while they performed the NST on the baby. I also reviewed all the visit summaries to make sure I didn’t miss anything. I noticed a downward trend of the amniotic fluid index (AFI) even though it was still in the normal range during my NST appointments. On Dec. 1, I had three appointments. The first was with the ultrasound to check on the baby's growth. Prior to this time, I already had my induction date set for Dec. 15, so I wasn’t expecting anything to happen at this appointment. That was until the ultrasound technician stopped chatting about the baby. I knew something was off. She asked if I was getting NSTs done. I quickly mentioned that I had noticed something off on my last NST appointment in regards to the AFI.

The ultrasound technician went to get to the doctor to double check the findings. When the doctor came in, she said, “It’s go time.” I became a bit emotional because I wasn’t planning or ready to have the baby right then. I was sent straight to Labor and Delivery to begin the process of induction. In my mind, I thought that I was going to have the baby quickly since my second came flying out after I was induced with him. This was only the beginning before I got to see the baby. We tried two types of induction medications with no luck and, unfortunately for me, I couldn’t tolerate the physical exams to give them a better idea of progress. I knew that we were exhausting options before C-section was mentioned. After several days in the hospital waiting on the baby girl, a plan was devised where we would do an epidural to get a better feel on my progress and then we would start the induction medication again and finally a Foley balloon would be used. We didn’t get that far because the physician decided to break the water and I went from an approximate 3 centimeters to 10 centimeters in about 30 to 45 minutes. Finally, from being admitted to the hospital on Dec. 1, I was able to hold my baby girl on Dec. 4 at 1:59 a.m. Her name is Philomena Aurora.

I was able to have some skin on skin and Philomena began to nurse, when I called my husband to get the baby because I wasn’t feeling well. I began to feel weak. The nurse checked to see if I was hemorrhaging, and I wasn’t. But they couldn’t explain why I was so weak. My recollection of this time is very vague, only what I have been told by my husband and the medical charts. I went into surgery for a dilation and curettage (DNC) to make sure the bleeding had stopped. The first surgery was deemed a success. I was wheeled back into my room; I wasn’t fully awake and I was in and out. When I opened my eyes briefly from surgery, I could see the room full of people. I knew my husband was at the foot of the bed. What I remember is the anesthesiologist was on my left side, I had nurses on my right and at the foot of the bed, and then I heard more physicians in the room trying to figure out what had happened with me. I could hear things like my blood pressure being low, that I was still losing blood, they had administered four units of blood plus plasma. I could hear the doctors talking about doing a scan, and then I remember someone saying that I wouldn’t make it. They opted for an ultrasound machine, which gave them the idea that there was a hemorrhage in my uterus.

I just remember snippets of this time. Even though I wasn’t scared of what was happening to me, I was more concerned about my three babies. I remember there were five things that I need to do. First, as a Catholic we revere the Virgin Mary although when I pray I go direct to speaking with Jesus and God, but I knew that I needed a maternal figure and asked permission for the Virgin Mary to intercede on my behalf to not to make my babies orphaned. Second, I had to tell my husband that “I loved him more than my own life.” Third, I told him to take care of my babies. Fourth, I had to tell my sister-in-law that I cared about her and loved her like a sister; I knew if something were to happen to me, she would help my husband raise my babies. And, fifth, when I was wheeled back into surgery I told a nurse that was observing to let the doctors know that I have three babies that I needed to go home to.

I woke up at 2 p.m. in the ICU with a ventilator, and my parents and husband in my room. I asked where the baby was and who had the baby. I also felt cheated because I had a vague recollection of what happened for the last 12 hours. The result was that I had a cervix laceration, and they also performed a hysterectomy with bilateral salpingectomy (removal of the fallopian tubes). Not only that, but by the end, I had had eight units of blood in total.

What I recall most was the kindness and compassion that your staff provided my family and me. There were the nurses who helped with the delivery of Philomena who stayed past their shift had ended; they didn’t need to do that and could have gone home to be with their families. There were the nurses and staff who watched over Philomena and helped my family while I was under the care of ICU for a couple days, especially allowing Philomena to come visit. The TMC Auxilians came to see me in the ICU to check on me and fill me in on what had happened since I had lost time.

I am reassured that I was in the best place for all this to happen. Although traumatic, it could have turned out a lot worse. The physical part of healing is almost complete. The emotional part has taken a bit longer, but I know that TMC saved my life and for that I am forever grateful. Thank you for letting me continue to be a mom for my three babies, a wife and to continue to be a part of my family.