MultiCare Inland Northwest Foundation (INWF) board member Mary Velazquez had not one, but two babies spend time in Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, New York, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Her first pregnancy was going along just fine until she unexpectedly went into labor at 33 weeks. As soon as her daughter was delivered, she was swept off to the NICU.
“It was a shock to me,” Mary recalls of her firstborn’s arrival. “As a brand-new mother, having your baby this way is terrifying. Fortunately, she was in pretty good condition. She was 5 pounds, 5 ounces when she was born. She just needed oxygen and was under an oxygen tent for about three days.”
When she was pregnant again two years later, Mary’s physician assured her that there was no risk in any category. However, at the 33-week mark, her son also made an early entrance.
MultiCare Inland Northwest Foundation board member Mary Velazquez holding her son Kevin for the first time.
“He was in the NICU for four weeks so that was much more difficult,” Mary says. “But the care was incredible. The NICU staff deal with this sort of trauma day in and day out, but they understand that the situation is entirely new to the mom. They thoughtfully answer your questions, taking the time to talk not only about what’s happening with your baby, but also about what you’re feeling, while giving you an idea of what to expect. It’s comforting to have such caring staff, nurses and doctors who understand how new and different it is for the parent — this comes through in the tenderness of all their interactions.”
Coming full circle at MultiCare Deaconess Hospital’s NICU
Today, Mary’s daughter is 31, and her son is 29. Though it’s been almost three decades since both NICU stays, the memories remain raw.
Last year, the Spokane resident of nearly 10 years joined the INWF board and visited the Level III NICU at MultiCare Deaconess Hospital, seemingly stepping back in time.
“I wanted to learn more about the NICU and their needs,” Mary explains. “The most surprising thing was how similar it looked to the NICU back in Buffalo 30 years ago. You would assume the technology would be much more advanced — and I’m sure the technology is — but the visual of it confirmed this important cause needs fundraising, so we can transform the surroundings to match the high quality of the care. We know the care the babies and the families receive is sophisticated and excellent, but the surroundings are important, too. That makes such a difference in a family’s experience.”
Mary’s decision to be on the INWF board comes from 20-plus years of working in health care and seeing the direct impact of donors supporting the health and well-being of their communities.
“It’s so impactful when people open their hearts and lives and contribute to such great causes,” Mary shares. “For a young family, a stay in the NICU is a very scary time in their life. It’s important to have warm, welcoming and comfortable surroundings to ease the traumatic experience. It would be fantastic for people to understand the importance and join our NICU cause.”
Dollars raised for the Deaconess NICU will be allocated for vital equipment like Giraffe beds, which are a specialized type of incubator. Babies can be resuscitated and transferred in these beds back to the NICU, where they’ll be provided with warmth and a quieter environment.
