CELEBRATING
AS
PARENTS
THEY
WERE
OF
Kaua‘i's Keiki
SEVEN,
PREPARED
MEL AND
TO WELCOME
PAULINE
VENTURA
THEIR
THOUGHT
EIGHTH
Na Keiki O Kaua`i Baby Wall.
CHILD
INTO THE WORLD. PAULINE'S PREGNANCY WAS HAPPILY UNEVENTFUL, AND
WHEN THE TIME CAME, THEY HEADED DOWN TO WILCOX MEDICAL CENTER
ON KAUA`I. BUT IN JUST MOMENTS, EVERYTHING CHANGED.
"I dropped my wife, Pauline, at the door,
then went to park our car," Mel recalled.
"When I got back to the hospital, she
was already delivering our daughter.
Unfortunately, our baby was born with the
umbilical cord wrapped around her neck."
The staff at Wilcox was able to deliver baby
Sara safely. And after about a week under
observation in an incubator, she was able
to go home.
That was in 1978. But those frightening
moments almost 40 years ago still touched
people when Mel Ventura shared his story
at the blessing of a new donor recognition
wall. The Wilcox Family Tree offers families
making a gift to Wilcox the opportunity to
honor babies and children connected to
the medical center.
As their only child born at Wilcox, Sara
Ventura's name was part of the wall when
it was established as the Na Keiki O Kaua`i
Baby Wall. She is now an adult working as a
case manager in health care. Dad Mel was
a foundation board member when that first
wall was completed and says his personal
story is just one reason why he continues to
support Wilcox.
"We must have this type of expert care,"
Mel said. "We are far removed from
other islands and other medical facilities.
Fortunately, we have strong pediatric
physicians and specialists."
On average, 500 children are born every
year at Wilcox. Donations raised from
the Family Tree will go toward pediatric
service needs specifically related to
maternity, labor and delivery, and infant
care. The funding will help purchase
important patient care items including
baby bassinets, blanket warmers, cribs,
labor beds, equipment for hearing tests,
fetal monitor system and infant Continuous
Positive Airway Pressure machines that
assist babies with breathing.
“In 35 years, I’ve seen the growth of
Wilcox and how it has become central to
all of our lives here on Kaua`i,” said Dr.
Geri Young, chief medical officer at Kaua`i
Medical Clinic. “Over time, and especially
after Hurricane `Iniki, all of our physicians
decided to share the call schedule to
service the hospital. With that crossover
coverage, we have gotten to know our
colleagues’ pediatric patients and feel
invested in their well-being. Adding to that
comradery and confidence, donors have
generously provided us the tools we need
to offer a robust pediatric and OB/GYN
program.”
Mel Ventura
Nicki Lee (on left) with fellow ambassadors at Spotlight on Kidz.
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