Marlowe came into this world stunned. Her doctor's note gave an honest read of the dire situation she was born into: "Infant delivered limp with poor tone/color after prolonged maternal pushing (~6h), failed vacuum and episiotomy. Bulb suctioned for thick meconium fluid, no respiratory effort, HR ~60. PPV initiated ~1MOL 20/5 with inadequate response."

A code blue went out to the hospital. A staggering number of nurses and doctors gathered in the hallway, waiting to see if they were needed. They all worked diligently while I stood aside, a mere spectator, while mom continued on with her labor. Within a minute of her arrival, Marlowe was intubated to relieve the stress on her lungs and heart. After some time, her condition improved enough that she and I, along with the entourage of her care team, made our way upstairs to the NICU.

When we later reviewed timestamps and doctors’ notes, we were able to piece together the timeline of that afternoon. Everything happened in less than 15 minutes. The trajectory of Marlowe’s life hung in the balance of those minutes and seconds. Anything could have happened, and I’m grateful that we were where we were - at Inova.

Over the coming days, Marlowe received exceptional care at Inova's NICU. While we left for home without her, the NICU staff became her primary caregivers. They took great care of Marlowe – her first diaper change, bottle, and bath all occurred under their care. We called each morning to get progress updates, eager to find out when we could take her home. Her care team always led with compassion and empathy.

Madeline and I also received much needed support from the NICU team: nurses, doctors, and front desk staff. From the moment I walked into the NICU, the team’s grace and compassion stood out. Almost immediately, they offered to connect us with counselors, therapists, and support groups to help us navigate our unexpected trauma.

Nine days after she was born, we walked out of the NICU with Marlowe in tow - exhausted, excited, relieved, and forever grateful.

In May, we celebrated Marlowe’s first birthday. She is a happy and healthy 1 year old. It is no hyperbole to say that the swift action and extraordinary care by the NICU team changed the course of her life.

This October, I will swim, bike, and run at Ironman California to give back to Inova’s NICU and raise awareness of how vital it is to have trusted neonatal care available within our communities. Your donation supports the greatest needs for patient assistance, state-of-the-art equipment and will help educate clinicians so they continue to provide the highest quality of care to the smallest of patients – just like Marlowe.

I would be grateful if you joined me on this journey. 

With love,

Ryan