Never in a million years did she dream that he would not be able to leave the hospital with her after he was born.

As an adult oncologist in Abilene, Dr. Amechi is accustomed to the ups and downs that go along with medicine. But she wasn’t prepared at her twentieth week of pregnancy when she learned that the amniotic fluid that was supposed to be surrounding her unborn son was missing.

“You never really expect to be in that situation,” said Dr. Amechi. “I just thought I was pregnant, I arranged my maternity leave and I was ready to have my baby.”

When Dr. Amechi’s son, Samuel, was born, he immediately began suffering from respiratory issues and needed to be intubated. On top of that, his kidneys were not able to fully develop due to the lack of amniotic fluid, leaving him in need of dialysis. He was admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the hospital where Dr. Amechi gave birth. For two months, Dr. Amechi spent day after day by Samuel’s side. The hospital was three hours away from their home in West Texas, and with a steady round of complications, the Amechi family had little hope of Samuel being discharged anytime soon.

“When I realized we weren’t going to get out of the NICU before September, I started bawling,” said Dr. Amechi. “That’s when my nurse said that’s it, let’s look for other options.”

After talking with the medical staff at the hospital, Dr. Amechi and her family decided to transfer Samuel to the NICU at Cook Children’s Medical Center. While it wasn’t home, it was a little closer to home. The Amechi family now only had to drive two hours to Fort Worth instead of the three hours they’d grown accustom to. And for the first time, they could spend the night next to Samuel. Unlike many other NICUs in the U.S., Cook Children’s NICU has private rooms with couches that pull out into a bed. This means families don’t have to leave their child’s side if they don’t want to.

“Cook Children’s has a way of arranging things to make life a little easier for families, even small things like parking. It was nice to be able park and not worry about finding a spot or having to pay for the garage,” said Dr. Amechi.

She says there was also a common goal among the NICU staff at Cook Children’s to get her son home, something she didn’t necessarily feel was the case before the transfer.

“We have a diverse and caring group of specialized people who are taking care of these very sick infants,” said Jonathan Nedrelow, M.D., medical director of the NICU at Cook Children’s. “From our nursing staff, to pharmacy, respiratory therapists, physicians and advanced practice nurses, we are all focused on doing what is best for the patient and their family.”

After three months at Cook Children’s, Samuel was finally deemed healthy enough to go home for the very first time. He was discharged in early September and is enjoying life with his two big sisters.

“Being able to leave the hospital with my son was a blessing,” said Dr. Amechi. “I remember when I was first told that I couldn’t take him home and I felt like the floor was going to fall from under me. So even though I was scared, I couldn’t wait to take him home.”

Stories like Dr. Amechi’s are not uncommon. In fact, Cook Children’s sees more than 1,000 babies admitted to the NICU each year. But often, when parents learn their newborn is in need of specialized care, they don’t realize they have a choice as to where that care is facilitated.

“Parents should know that they have a say when it comes to the care of their child,” said Dr. Nedrelow. “They should also know that there are different levels of care available.”

The NICU at Cook Children’s has been designated as a Level IV NICU by the state of Texas, meaning it provides the highest standard of neonatal care. Dr. Nedrelow says parents interested in transferring to Cook Children’s should contact their insurance company first. Because every company is different, having written approval from your insurance company before the transfer is the best way to ensure the care will be covered by your policy.

“If you’re considering transferring your baby to another hospital, be sure to talk to your physician,” said Dr. Nedrelow. “Ultimately, it’s your decision on where your newborn is treated, but your physician makes the referral and remains part of the treatment process so it’s important to discuss the process with him or her.”

About Cook Children's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

If you would like to schedule an appointment for a NICU tour, refer a patient or speak to our staff, please call our offices at 855-687-6428. You can also find more information on our website. 

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In the absence of state-led standards, DSHS was tasked with developing criteria for designating levels of neonatal and maternal care. This includes specifying the minimum requirements for each level, one through four. Any NICU in Texas that receives Medicaid reimbursements must undergo this designation process by September 2018 in order to continue collecting Medicaid funds. Cook Children’s NICU was one of the first NICUs in the state to be reviewed.

“While all NICUs help babies who need extra care, Level IV NICUs care for the most critical and vulnerable infants,” said Jonathan Nedrelow, M.D., neonatologist and medical director of the NICU at Cook Children’s Medical Center. “This designation reinforces the fact that Cook Children’s is among the best care centers in Texas for medically-fragile babies.”

• Comprehensive care for infants born at all gestational ages and birth weights with critical illnesses.
• Surgical repair for complex congenital or acquired conditions.
• A full range of pediatric subspecialties and surgical specialists.
• Access to high-risk infant follow-up care through the NEST program once babies are discharged.
• Ability to transport critically-ill babies via aircraft.
• Outreach education to lower-level facilities.
• Single rooms so parents can comfortably stay with their babies.

“Cook Children’s NICU is the only Level IV NICU in Tarrant County,” said Sheralyn Hartline, director of the NICU at Cook Children’s Medical Center. “This recognition is significant because it means families of critically ill babies don’t have to travel far from home to receive the best care available. The physicians and nurses at Cook Children’s NICU provide exceptional care for the some of the sickest babies in Texas and across the United States.”

Find the requirements for a Neonatal Designation Level IV, according to Texas Administrative Code, here. For more information on House Bill 15, please visit the Texas Health and Human Services website.

Learn More About Cook Children's NICU
No one ever wants to think about their newborn being critically ill. But it's good to be as prepared as possible, so if you do have to make such choices, we'll help you be well-informed. Start by asking your doctor about what type of treatment your baby may need. Then ask which NICU has the best equipment and staff to provide that care. You may want to research and learn about the differences between each one. For example, only Cook Children's NICU offers all single rooms, specially designed so that babies can receive the highest level of care and parents can comfortably stay with their babies as much as they like. Your OB/GYN or pediatrician may also be good sources of NICU information.