Nicole Radcliffe, an emergency medical technician, knew she and her unborn baby were in serious danger the afternoon of February 13th. Although the baby was not due for another six weeks, her water had broken and there had been a gush of blood.

In excruciating pain, Nicole, the EMT, relied on her medical training to squelch the panic threatening to overtake her as the expectant mother. She sat outside the house with her father waiting for an ambulance and focused on what she had to do: stay calm and control her breathing in an effort to slow the contractions.

The ambulance swiftly pulled into the Emergency entrance at 4:50 pm. Nicole was taken immediately to the operating room, where she was met by her obstetrician, Dr. Fred Adibi. Assisting Dr. Adibi was his colleague, Dr. Elizabeth Hamilton. She noted, “Nicole’s surgery was performed in the operating room rather than in labor and delivery. Our teams worked to deliver the baby as quickly as possible. I’m always impressed at how the OR seems to make emergencies run so smoothly.”

Baby Logan was born at 5:18 pm, weighing just four pounds and six ounces. “Time was of the essence,” said Dr. Adibi. “Our priority was to get the baby to the Special Care Nursery.”

The baby boy was whisked off to the Special Care Nursery, where nurses and physicians stabilized his breathing and other bodily functions. Among the staff was a pediatric specialist from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The CHOP connection makes pediatricians available at Grand View 24 hours a day to meet the needs of young patients like Logan.

Back in the recovery room, the staff worked to relieve Nicole’s pain. The next morning, Dr. Adibi informed Nicole that her placenta had ruptured. He allowed her to walk to the nursery, where she finally got to see her new baby. “It was love at first sight,” she said. “All that mattered was that he was here and he was now in good hands.”

Logan’s father and all four of his grandparents soon had a chance to see the new addition to their family. They cheerfully snapped photos as the nurse held Logan up in the nursery-room window.

“I couldn’t have been happier with the women who were taking care of Logan,” Nicole said. “I definitely fell in love with nurse Louie DeCarme. She calmed any anxiety I had.”

As a 24-year-old, Nicole recovered quickly and, after three days, was well enough to return home. Although she hated leaving her baby, she noted, “I just needed to recover and sleep as much as I could. I was confident that Louie and the other nurses would care for Logan while I got my rest.”

Logan remained in the hospital about three weeks. On his first day, he received oxygen as well as nutrients and medication through an intravenous (IV) tube for several days. His weight dropped to three pounds, 13 ounces because he had trouble eating. The staff inserted a feeding tube to help him gain weight. His weight bounced back to four pounds, six ounces, and he gained the strength to drink from a bottle.

A couple of weeks later, the tube was removed, and Logan was healthy enough to leave the hospital. Now, several months later, Logan is a bouncing baby boy, demanding all his mother’s time and energy. His weight and length are right on track for a baby born prematurely. Developmentally, he’s on par in many areas with children of his chronological age.

“My experience at Grand View was excellent,” Nicole said. “I can’t imagine life without this little guy.”

source: Annual Report 2006
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A lifetime of experience
Dr. Fred Adibi
Grand View Medical Practices
OB/GYN at Quakertown

“I love performing surgery, and I love new life. It’s a great feeling to help mothers welcome their newborns into the world. ” Ask Dr. Fred Adibi what he loves most about his field, and there’s your answer. Dr. Adibi, board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology, has been in practice for over 30 years. After receiving his medical degree, he completed his internship and residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Methodist Hospital of Brooklyn. He practiced for four years in Missouri before coming to Grand View Hospital, where he has spent the past 25 years. “Grand View performs fantastically when it comes to labor and delivery. It is well prepared to cope with emergencies such as Nicole’s,” he said. “Nicole and her baby were assured of excellent care when they came through the door.” When asked about whether he felt he made the right professional choice, Dr. Adibi responded, “If I had the chance, I would do it all over again.”

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A lifetime of experience
Dr. Elizabeth Hamilton
Grand View Medical Practices
OB/GYN at Quakertown

Dr. Hamilton, a colleague of Dr. Adibi, assisted in Nicole’s emergency surgery. She is board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology. She received her medical degree from Creighton University School of Medicine and earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Scranton. She completed her internship and residency at St. Luke’s Hospital in Bethlehem.