The After the Storm

After experiencing a devastating miscarriage in early 2022, Daniela Montoya knew it was time to find a health care provider who practiced compassionate, whole-person care. That’s when she heard about Kenneth W. Jackson, MD, FACOG, and the team at AdventHealth Medical Group Obstetrics and Gynecology*.

“I went to the appointment with him,” Daniela remembers, “And we found out there that I was pregnant again.” Daniela was thrilled to hear this news and to be connecting with a new doctor and team as this pregnancy progressed. “Since the beginning, the whole team was amazing. They were super supportive, and I had a very good relationship with the doctor.”

Daniela was especially impressed with the way that Dr. Jackson made sure to include her husband, Julian, in the appointments. “He was included in all the conversations, and he [Dr. Jackson] was talking to both of us, not only to me. And that was really nice of him.”

A routine screening discovered Daniela’s baby had polydactyly, a genetic condition causing an extra finger on each hand.

Julian had been born with the same condition. Daniela and Julian worked with their AdventHealth care team to make plans for a procedure to remove the extra digits after the baby’s birth.

Later in Daniela’s pregnancy, Dr. Jackson and his team discovered the umbilical cord was connected to the corner of the placenta instead of the middle. This can decrease fluid and oxygen flow to the baby. To make sure the baby did not go into distress, Daniela would need to be induced a few weeks prior to her due date.

On November 25, Daniela went into The Baby Place at AdventHealth Hendersonville to continue close monitoring. Two days later, it was time to induce. “Of course I was super scared,” Daniela recalls, “but they were telling me step by step what was going to happen, and what they were doing. That helps you a lot because it gives you a lot of peace of mind. They make you get focused on what’s going to happen after all that pain. You just feel like they’re taking care of you in every single way.”

After making little progress during labor, Dr. Jackson’s colleague, Natalie Rochester, MD, FACOG explained to Daniela that they needed to perform an emergency cesarean section because the baby wasn’t tolerating contractions. “It was a beautiful delivery,” Dr. Rochester says, “after the baby was delivered there was evidence of a small hematoma or blood clot in the umbilical cord which likely related to the baby’s intolerance of labor. Thankfully, baby and mom did well.”

Daniela’s baby, Gabriella, was born on November 28, 2022. AdventHealth Hendersonville Pediatric Hospitalist, Heather Krueger, MD performed the procedure to remove the extra fingers the following day.

“Gabriella was a precious newborn,” Dr. Krueger remembers, “Gabriella’s father was also born with an extra finger on each hand. He showed me the small scars from where each one was removed when he was a newborn.” Before the procedure, Dr. Krueger helped him take pictures of Gabriela’s hands so he could show her the special connection they shared.

The procedure went well, making the family even more thrilled with the care they received at The Baby Place. “I felt like I was treated as a human, not as a number, and that was great,” Daniela shares, “They were very professional and friendly. They treat you and your family in a way that you feel comfortable to be in that place. We’re glad they were a part of this experience with our family.”

“When looking at the whole person, it’s important to know that all parents who are awaiting the delivery of their child have anxiety,” Dr. Rochester says, “Labor can be scary for some people and our prior experiences and family experiences can play into this. Having been able to connect with this family, listen to concerns and address them helped provide for their needs at delivery.”

Daniela and Julian were in love with Gabriella the moment they laid eyes on her and have been enjoying getting to know their precious baby girl in the months since her birth. They are excited to continue to share their journey and family alongside The Baby Place at AdventHealth Hendersonville thanks to a very special connection.

“AdventHealth is part of our family now, our story,” Daniela says, “and we definitely will go back when we have our next child, because we had a great experience. We found nice, great people there, and we felt cared for.”