Family Forever Thankful for NICU ‘Angels’ at Health First’s Holmes Regional Medical Center

With help of Holmes Regional Medical Center’s care team, baby is now healthy, happy toddler

BREVARD COUNTY • ROCKLEDGE, FLORIDA – One of the first memories Jay has of becoming a father was running from the operating room to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Missy, a Type 1 diabetic who’d thought she’d never be able to have a baby of her own, had just given birth to their daughter, Abigail, via emergency C-section at Health First’s Holmes Regional Medical Center.

As Missy recovered from surgery, Jay rushed to see his 3-pound, 14-ounce baby girl in the Level II NICU. Born eight weeks early, Jay and Missy were elated at Abigail’s arrival – but also frightened.

“I was terrified I’d lose them both,” Jay confessed.

Missy, who had been admitted because of her skyrocketing blood pressure, feared the worst, too.

“She was already such a blessing,” Missy said of having her miracle baby. “And now she could have been lost at any minute.”
But the care provided to Abigail helped alleviate both new parents’ fears as their baby girl grew stronger.

During the two weeks Abigail was in the NICU, Jay and Missy received “on-the-job” training from the NICU staff – “angels on earth,” as Jay fondly calls the nurses, doctors and others who provided incredible care and support.

Jay and Missy felt like they were the only family on the unit.

“But we knew they were caring for others the same way,” Missy said. “It’s amazing what they do on a daily basis with such ease and compassion.”

Having the NICU right here in Brevard was critical to the family.

“To be separated from Abigail if she needed to be transported to a different location would have been unthinkable,” Missy said.

For that, they are forever grateful. And today, Abigail is a happy, healthy 3-year-old.

“During the most terrifying time in our lives, they brought us comfort,” Jay said. “We wholeheartedly trusted them.”

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