Emergency Turned Miracle
Story 169

In February 2023, Amy Gill woke up in the middle of the night with intense discomfort. She and her husband, Sunny, planned to deliver their second child, a baby boy named Chandan, at a hospital in Sacramento, as they did with their firstborn. But they quickly realized that Chandan had other plans, ruling out the possibility of reaching Sacramento in time. Instead, they rushed to Adventist Health and Rideout.

Upon arrival, Amy recalls a nurse rapidly pressing the elevator button, underscoring the urgency of the situation. They discovered the baby was breach, a situation where the unborn child is positioned feet or bottom first in the uterus. Dr. Daniel Ferguson recommended an emergency caesarean delivery (C-section) and, despite the rapid turn of events, maintained a calm demeanor and clear communication to reassure Amy.

As they rushed Amy to the operating room, nature intervened and there was no time for a C-section. Dr. Ferguson skillfully delivered the baby breech, with Amy expressing her disbelief at the speed of the process.

“From the moment I woke up, to the moment Chandan was born — it had been under two hours,” she said.

Being born a month premature, baby Chandan was quickly taken to the Level II NICU. Amy found comfort in the assurances from a nurse that everything was under control, and they were taking great care of baby Chandan.

“I just remember my nurse kneeling next to me and letting me know he was doing great, and we were both in great hands,” she said.

Amy and Sunny expressed their immense gratitude for the care they received at Adventist Health and Rideout. She shared about moments with her nurse when she felt like a dear friend or family member.

“While larger medical centers have their merits, the personalized care and follow up services I received here completely exceeded my expectations,” Amy said. “When I hear anyone on the fence or talk about delivering out of town, I always recommend Adventist Health and Rideout based on my wonderful experience.”

The positive experience extended beyond the delivery, as Adventist Health and Rideout continues to provide valuable follow-up support and resources to Amy and her family. Weekly breastfeeding support classes have been particularly impactful for Amy and baby Chandan.

“I am so thankful we have Adventist Health and Rideout here locally,” she said. “I don’t know what we would have done without them that night.”

Written by Joseph Page, Adventist Health + Rideout