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Family Health Magazine - Spring/Summer 2005

Second Smallest Baby to Survive in New Jersey Thrives
One Year Later

When Isabella Soto was born last July 1, 2004, she was too small for even the preemie clothes. Tiping the scales at only 14.2 ounces —— making her the second smallest infant to survive in New Jersey, and the smallest girl ever born at Saint Barnabas Medical Center —— Isabella s wardrobe consisted of micro preemie garments and several tiny outfits lovingly created by one of her four nurses at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

She was smaller than a Barbie doll, her mother, Vivian, recalls. My wedding ring went over her entire wrist and looked like a bangle bracelet. She looked just like a little bird.

Now almost a year later, Isabella is ready to celebrate both her christening and her first birthday at a celebratory party with 200 joyful friends and family members. Her parents and physicians report that she is meeting every milestone for her corrected age (subtracting for the three and a half months of prematurity), and appears to have no residual health problems.

She looks perfect developmentally, says Kamtorn Vangvanichyakorn, M.D., Clinical Director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. It is highly unusual for such a baby to be discharged without needing supplemental oxygen. Isabella has done extremely well.

A Much Wished For Baby
Vivian and Israel Soto had been married for fifteen years before they were able to overcome fertility problems and become pregnant. When Vivian, a high-risk antepartum nurse, learned that she had developed preeclampsia (a pregnancy disorder that is characterized by high blood pressure), she knew that the baby was not receiving enough oxygen. An emergency C-section was performed by Ernani Sadural, M.D., attending obstetrician/ gynecologist at Saint Barnabas, when the pregnancy was 23 weeks and six days along.

The Sotos feared the worst, especially Vivian, who knew the many potential complications for such a premature infant. Despite the dire predictions, Isabella proved to be a fighter, and her condition steadily improved. She required surgery to close a heart opening, which normally closes after birth but did not in this case, but she was otherwise healthy. The Soto family credits Isabella s recovery to Dr. Kamtorn and the entire NICU staff for their excellent, compassionate care.

The most difficult part, the Sotos say, was not being able to hold Isabella for over a month. To compensate, they touched her using gloves and personalized her isolette with a blanket, a CD player with lullabies, family photos and colorful plush flowers.

Homecoming
Isabella, who looks just like her father, came home in October 2004 without any supplemental medical equipment. For baby's first Christmas, the Sotos bought a large tree and a miniature tree, which was decorated with Isabella's micro preemie clothes. They plan to continue the clothes tree tradition as a way to celebrate her growth and continued good health in the face of such an uphill climb.

We have so much to be thankful for, says Vivian. Isabella is doing fantastically well thanks to the wonderful NICU staff and so many prayers of support.

To find out more about the Department of Pediatrics at Saint Barnabas Medical Center and the NICU, please call
1-888-SBHS-123.

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