Charitable Foundation

White Memorial: Making a Difference in Emily Hope's Life

Last year, Emily Hope Reynoso was a healthy six-month-old spending her first Christmas at home with her parents, Hector and Kristy. This story could have had a different ending because on April 6, 2000, when Kristy was just 26 weeks into her pregnancy with Emily, a doctor's exam revealed that she was at risk for premature labor.

"I was so afraid," Kristy said. "I had already lost two babies for the same reason."

Kristy was admitted to White Memorial Medical Center's High Risk Obstetrics Unit, which is designed to meet the needs of women with prenatal complications. On May 22nd, she delivered Emily Hope.

Because Emily weighed only 3 pounds, 10 ounces at birth she spent the next three weeks in White Memorial's Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where she was given the loving and specialized, state-of-the-art care she needed to grow and thrive. During their stay, both mother and baby were closely monitored on a daily basis by both the Perinatologist and the nursing staff to assure that both were progressing well. Emily was released from the NICU when her weight reached four and an half pounds.

"Emily Hope wouldn't be here if it weren't for White Memorial," Kristy said. If she'd been born at 26 weeks, she could have had severe complications or even died."

Patients like Kristy, who are at risk of early delivery or complications due to reasons such as premature labor, high blood pressure, diabetes or infections, are now receiving extra care and attention at White Memorial. We have always taken excellent care of high-risk patients, but by designating a separate unit, these patients now receive specialized care focused on their particular condition. And most important, by delaying birth as long as possible, babies get a better start at life.

"Being hospitalized for seven weeks was hard on me and my family," said Kristy, "but the staff did everything they could to make me comfortable. They encouraged Hector and our children to visit often. One nurse knew I liked to read, so she brought me books and videos from home. I even made some friends on the unit."

The White Memorial Medical Center Charitable Foundation is licensed by the City of Los Angeles-Police Commission Charitable Services Section to make appeals for charitable donations. If you would like to see a copy of our permit, please contact us.