Born after the derecho, parents thankful for NICU
Coordinated care saves man’s life
WORLD-CLASS HEART CARE
The highest level of heart care close to home
ASK THE EXPERT
Your annual physical and why it’s important
FACE Does one side of the face or mouth droop? Can the person smile?
ARM Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
SPEECH Is speech slurred? Ask the person to repeat a single sentence. Is the sentence repeated correctly?
TIME If the person shows any signs of these symptoms, CALL 911 or go to St. Luke’s ER immediately.
Stroke is an Emergency! Every minute counts. Call 911 if these symptoms occur!
UnityPoint Health is working with local public health departments to vaccinate individuals 65+. UnityPoint Clinics are notifying patients via phone, text or direct mail when they are able to schedule an appointment.
Please do not call your clinic requesting the vaccine at this time, as a high volume of calls makes it more difficult to address those patients with immediate needs. We appreciate your patience as the vaccine rollout continues.
COVID-19 vaccines are expected to be widely available to the general public later this year. Eligibility, timelines and processes will depend on the number of available vaccine doses. A COVID-19 vaccine may not be available for young children until more studies are completed.
Until more individuals are vaccinated, it’s important to practice COVID-19 safety. Even after a person is vaccinated, they should continue to stay home when sick, wear a mask and social distance.
Stay tuned for updates at unitypoint.org or your county’s health department.
UnityPoint Health wants to remind everyone they should not delay seeking necessary care during this global pandemic. Safety remains the top priority and our ER and clinics continue to welcome patients.
“Please, do not delay care if you need it. Emergencies don’t wait. We’re here, safe and ready for you,” said Ryan Sundermann, MD, St. Luke’s ER medical director. “We know this continues to be a trying time, but our community must know that getting the care they need is also important.”
If you have a medical emergency, please call 911 or go St. Luke’s ER immediately.
UnityPoint Health is also encouraging patients to keep up with preventive care such as wellness visits, vaccinations and care for chronic conditions. There are multiple options to provide the care people need, whether that’s in person or through telehealth.
For non-urgent medical needs, UnityPoint Health has walk-in and primary care clinics that are safe and open. Patients are encouraged to book an appointment online through MyUnityPoint or the Find a Doctor tool on unitypoint.org. If no appointment is available, patients can call or message the clinic. Masks are required on all UnityPoint Health campuses to help keep both patients and team members safe. Many of our clinics are utilizing virtual waiting rooms, which allow patients to wait in their vehicles prior to their appointments.
UnityPoint Health also recommends patients use the “Reserve Your Spot” website feature for walk-in clinics like UnityPoint Clinic Urgent Care or UnityPoint Clinic – Express to maintain social distancing while in a waiting room. It can be found at unitypoint.org/urgentcare.
The UnityPoint Health system has over 1,527 providers, covering 92 specialties, trained and ready to care for you virtually. Patients should call their local clinic to learn more and request a telehealth appointment with their provider.
Virtual Urgent Care is also available and can be a good option for treatment for conditions like sinus infections, rashes, urinary tract infections, allergies and other illnesses. For more information, and to access UnityPoint Health’s Virtual Urgent Care, visit unitypoint.org/clinics/virtual-care.
Chad Coburn is alive today thanks to a team of people who acted fast, knew just what to do, had the right equipment and sent him to the area’s heart hospital just in the nick of time.
The 47-year-old Victor man recalls the day he nearly died in October. He had been working a lot and took off early to remove some trees at his home.
“My wife, Crystal, and 13-year-old son, Cael, came out and helped me,” recalled Chad. “We finished up and headed inside. It was around that time I started to have a little bit of pain in both elbows. I’ve had rheumatoid arthritis and I thought
maybe the tree work was causing the pain. I took some Tylenol but it didn’t seem to help. It kept getting worse, and it didn’t feel like arthritis. I told Crystal we needed to go to the hospital.”
The family started to get ready to go when suddenly the pain disappeared. Chad called his sister, who is a nurse, and told her what happened. They decided if the pain came back, he should go to the hospital and get it checked out.
“At that point we headed into town to get something to cook for dinner,” shared Chad. “We did that and returned home when the pain started in my elbows again, and it was getting
worse. It was a little more rapid and moved into my forearms and wrists. We decided to go to the hospital in Marengo. The last thing I remember was bracing myself on the two countertops in our kitchen to rest myself for a moment.”
It was then that Chad fell straight back like a board and hit the floor. Crystal called 911 and handed the phone to Cael who stayed on with the 911 operator as his mom started cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
“She did this for about eight minutes and it just so happened that Sheriff’s Deputy Mark Tiedt from Iowa County was patrolling nearby,” said Chad. “Our home is actually in Poweshiek County but close to the Iowa County line. The deputy saw what was happening and went back to his vehicle to grab an automated external defibrillator (AED). They used it to shock my heart, which didn’t start right away. Meanwhile, Sheriff’s Deputy Jono Cheney from Poweshiek County arrived and took over chest compressions from Crystal until I became responsive a few minutes later.”
The Victor Quick Responders arrived a short time later, as did the East Poweshiek Ambulance. Chad was rushed to Compass Memorial Healthcare in Marengo. The team at Compass called St. Luke’s LifeGuard Air Ambulance to transport Chad to St. Luke’s, Cedar Rapids’ heart hospital.
“Chad had a full blown, cardiac arrest,” shared Subhi Halawa, MD, UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Cardiology. “We call it ventricular fibrillation, which is essentially chaotic electrical activity from the ventricle. Instead of a normal heart beat it prevents the heart from pumping blood, causing cardiac arrest.”
When Chad arrived at St. Luke’s ER, the LifeGuard team immediately took him to the heart catheterization lab where Dr. Halawa placed a stent to open his 100 percent blocked vessel.
“In Chad’s case cardiac arrest was caused by a heart blockage,” explained Dr. Halawa. “This is typically caused by soft plaque, which is a cholesterol build up inside the blood vessel wall. If Chad hadn’t received
treatment by this team of individuals when he did, he would not be here. He’s extremely lucky.”
“I’ve always lived my life with no regrets, doing everything I’ve ever wanted to do, treating people with kindness and this solidifies how I want to continue to live,” shared Chad. “It’s difficult to know how to thank everyone. I have thanked them all profusely. They all helped me continue to live my life and to hopefully grow older with Crystal, to be a father to Cael and watch him grow to be a man but it’s tough to express that level of gratitude.”
Chad hopes his story and his ‘happy ending’ spur others to learn CPR. He and Crystal were trained in CPR through work –never thinking it would be a skill they would need.
“I want people to know what a huge difference CPR made for me,” explained Chad. “I hope people read my story and learn CPR because it and the AED are what ultimately kept me alive in time to get to St. Luke’s where doctors were able to open my heart blockage. CPR is a lifesaver.”
When you have a medical emergency every minute counts, especially when it comes to chest pain and other heart attack symptoms. St. Luke’s beats the national average when it comes to fast heart attack care. As an Accredited Chest Pain Center, Eastern Iowans can trust St. Luke’s highly skilled team of emergency and heart physicians to assess, diagnose and treat heart attack symptoms with a high level of expertise.
According to the American Heart Association, CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival. Learn two basic steps:
1. Call 911
2. Push hard & fast in the center of the chest until help arrives
To watch a Hands-Only CPR video from the American Heart Association, visit bit.ly/LearnCPRToday.
Sandy Klein admits she did what a lot of women tend to do, explained away concerning heart attack symptoms that would come and go.
“I think women and mothers in particular, are often in a state of denial and we tell ourselves, ‘we don’t have time to be sick,’” explained Klein. “I was feeling that way last July when I started noticing chest pain and shortness of breath.”
The problem with her doing this was that Klein is familiar with warning signs of heart issues. The 66-year-old Cedar Rapids woman had a stent placed to open a heart blockage in 2012.
“Last spring I started noticing some discomfort during my daily walks,” shared Klein. “It was becoming increasingly harder for me to get a breath, and it was kind of painful. It was different from my previous heart issue, so I thought it couldn’t be my heart. I had nitroglycerin because of my previous heart treatment. I would take one tablet and the discomfort would go away.”
It got to the point where the pain would wake me up at night.
Klein’s family urged her to go to St. Luke’s and get it checked out, but she insisted she had an appointment with her UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s cardiologist coming up soon and it could wait. Meanwhile, her symptoms worsened.
“It got to the point where the pain would wake me up at night and I would take another nitroglycerin tablet and then go back to sleep after the pain subsided.”
“A lot of individuals either minimize the number of symptoms they are having, or they take medication and the pain resolves, which is what Sandy was doing,” explained Garry Weide, DO, UnityPoint Health Heart and Vascular Institute and Physicians’ Clinic of Iowa cardiothoracic surgeon. “They feel they are going to be OK but what we worry about is having a significant acute immediate heart attack. This can be life-threatening and fatal. If someone keeps ignoring these slow smoldering heart problems, it can ultimately lead to permanent damage of the heart muscle and decrease the effectiveness of the heart. This may impact their quality of life.”
“I finally made it to my cardiologist appointment and shared I was having all these symptoms,” said Klein. “I was immediately scheduled for a heart catheterization. During the procedure it was determined I had too many blockages and would need open heart surgery.”
“Sandy had a fairly straightforward quadruple bypass surgery,” said Dr. Weide. “We placed four graphs total. At St. Luke’s we use radial arteries whenever we can when it’s safe for the patient. Arteries tend to have a longer lifespan than veins because they have a better chance of remaining open and functioning well for many years. We use them more commonly than the national average.”
St. Luke’s is Cedar Rapids’ heart hospital. It’s the city’s longest running open heart surgery program, which started in 1978. The hospital has been nationally recognized six times as a Top 50 Heart Hospital.
“Medicine is constantly changing, and we have adapted over the years,” said Dr. Weide. “We are always looking for new and minimally invasive techniques to provide the best patient experience – all while maintaining excellent outcomes. No one should ever need to travel to receive heart care – we provide exceptional care at St. Luke’s with our experienced open heart surgery team.”
Klein was fortunate. There was no significant damage to her heart. She spent four days at St. Luke’s after surgery and completed cardiac rehabilitation with her 86-year-old mom, Helen.
“Ironically, around the same time I was having my heart issues my mom was having some as well,” shared Klein. “Mom ended up having a cardiac cath procedure and stents placed shortly after my surgery. We attended class together every day for many weeks at St. Luke’s. I guess you could say heart issues are in my genetic material.”
St. Luke’s offers Heart Check, which helps individuals discover their risk for heart disease. We invite you to learn more or to sign up, call (319) 369-8129.
Like in men, the most common heart attack symptom for women is pain or discomfort in the chest. However, women can also have a heart attack without having any chest pain. Some of the other symptoms women might experience include:
• Feeling out of breath
• Pain that runs along the neck, jaw or upper back
• Nausea, vomiting or indigestion
• Unexplained sweating
• Sudden or overwhelming fatigue
• Dizziness
Call 911 or go to St. Luke’s ER if you are experiencing any of these heart attack symptoms.
Ron Adkins has been given a second chance at life. At 54, the Cedar Rapids man is feeling the best he has felt in years and says he owes it all to his heart attack.
“I asked myself, ‘You’ve been given the opportunity to keep living. What are you going to do with it?’” shared Adkins. “I started going to cardiac rehab after my heart attack and it was amazing. The people at St. Luke’s cardiac rehab are great, and they really motivate you to want to be better. Since I had my heart attack a year ago, I’ve lost 50 pounds and I feel the best I’ve felt in decades.”
Initially Adkins thought his heart attack was indigestion and maybe even depression. He noticed he had slowed considerably over time.
“I just hadn’t been feeling like myself,” shared Adkins. “There were many weeks where all I wanted to do is sleep. I would go to bed early and ignore the alarm in the morning. I had no energy. It kept getting progressively worse, and I thought it might be linked to depression.”
One morning last year, Adkins started feeling indigestion and a growing sharp pain in his chest. He took some antacids, called work and said he was going to be in late.
“About two hours later I went into work and the entire office staff came over to come talk to me and ask me if I was OK,”
recalled Adkins. “I said, ‘I don’t know, we’ll see how the day goes.’ My boss said, ‘We can get you to the emergency room.’ Around that time, I had a massive twinge in my chest, and I said, ‘let’s go to the ER.’”
One of Adkins’ co-workers drove him to St. Luke’s ER. St. Luke’s is the area’s heart hospital. St. Luke’s has earned the Chest Pain Center Accreditation with Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) and Resuscitation from the American College of Cardiology. The certification is based on rigorous on-site evaluation of the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack.
“I walked into the ER and said I was having chest pain, and they immediately rushed me back to a room,” recalled Adkins, “I had exceptional care. It was amazing how many people were worried about me, making sure I was comfortable and wasn’t afraid. Dr. Halawa came in, looked at my EKG and told me I was having a heart attack. He said, ‘Don’t worry. We are going to take good care of you.’ He was amazing and showed genuine care.”
Ron’s EKG
“Ron’s EKG and his blood work showed he was having a heart event,” said Subhi Halawa, MD, UnityPoint Health –St. Luke’s Cardiology. “He was transported to our cardiac cath lab and he was found to have a complete occlusion of a blood vessel that supplies the backside of the heart. We removed the blockage and put in a stent. He’s fortunate he did not suffer a lot of heart damage.”
“I’m amazed at how fast I was treated,” Adkins shared. “I was in the cath lab within half an hour of when I arrived at St. Luke’s ER. I woke up after my procedure and felt better than I had in a long time.”
“Ron is fortunate his heart did not fibrillate and cause cardiac arrest,” said Dr. Halawa. “He could have died. I encourage people to come in and get checked when symptoms are not going away. In Ron’s case it was indigestion and then some chest pain. If you are not feeling well, it’s best to get checked as soon as possible. A false alarm is better than waiting. If you wait and you are having a heart attack, you may have more complications down the line.”
A false alarm is better than waiting.
“Don’t be stubborn,” Adkins stressed. “Listen to your body. I was very lucky. I was initially writing off my heart attack symptoms as something completely different. I am glad I finally paid attention and went to St. Luke’s ER. I trust their care. I always have.”
Call 911 or go immediately to St. Luke’s ER if you are experiencing chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue or other signs of a heart attack. There’s only one choice for your heart – choose St. Luke’s, the heart hospital.
Heart disease can go undetected for years. St. Luke’s developed Heart Scan to speed up the process of finding heart disease. This screening is used to identify plaque in the coronary arteries and assess heart health. There are no injections, treadmills or pre-test fasting. The cost is $99.
A computed tomography (CT) machine takes X-ray pictures of the heart and detects plaque in the arteries, creating a number called a calcium score. This number helps healthcare providers assess heart disease risks.
The Heart Scan is for men and women between the ages of 40 and 70. All that’s needed is a doctor’s referral.
To learn more or to schedule, call Heart Care Services at (319) 369-8909.
Linda McConnell decided to make an appointment with her UnityPoint Clinic provider because she noticed something was off with her health.
“I felt like I was out of breath a lot and not feeling up to par,” explained McConnell. “I have had pneumonia a couple of times and I am always worried I am going to get it again, so I thought I should get it checked out.”
McConnell was right to trust her instinct. Her blood pressure was elevated and her heart rate was extremely high. She had an EKG in the clinic, which checked her heart.
“My heart was in AFib,” said McConnell. “It’s a heart condition, which runs in my family, but it was the first time I was ever told I had AFib. The provider wanted me to go to the hospital and insisted I either go by ambulance or have someone pick me up. I called a friend who lived nearby.”
McConnell’s provider called ahead to St. Luke’s ER, and as soon as she entered and said her name, she was immediately transported by wheelchair to a room where the team worked to lower her heart rate. The ER team was able to reduce it some, with medication but her heart rate was still too high.
“Linda presented with atrial fibrillation (AFib), which is one of the most common heart rhythm disturbances,” said Keith
Kopec, MD, UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Cardiology. “The two concerns we have with AFib is it greatly increases your risk of stroke. Also, if your heart beats too fast and continues for several weeks, it can weaken the pumping function of the heart and cause congestive heart failure. We needed to slow down her heart rate.”
“I was admitted to the hospital,” shared McConnell. “I remember I was told my heart was only pumping at 35 percent and it needed to be 50 percent or higher. They ran many tests and I had a heart cath procedure to look for any heart blockages, and it was normal.”
“Once we knew there were no blockages in her heart arteries, our focus switched to controlling her heart rate, slowing it down and putting her on a blood thinner to prevent strokes,” said Dr. Kopec.
McConnell was later diagnosed with congestive heart failure. It’s likely her AFib contributed to the diagnosis. She remained at St. Luke’s for a week as doctors worked to get her condition under control.
“Congestive heart failure is a complicated term,” Dr. Kopec explained. “There are multiple causes and there are essentially two categories of congestive heart failure. The first one is with reduced ejection fraction, meaning the heart is not pumping well. Linda transitioned from that category and into the second category of preserved ejection fraction group, which means her heart returned to pumping normally. However, she still has the diagnosis of congestive heart failure. Over a period of several months we were able to use medication to control her heart rate and her heart was able to regain strength.”
“It was an unexpected diagnosis and I have a hard time with the name of my condition,” shared McConnell. “It’s scary sounding and it’s hard to get over that label. It’s difficult not to hear that term and think it’s a death sentence. It’s been two years since I was diagnosed. I completed cardiac rehabilitation, cleaned up my diet and exercise. I am doing well, and I am thankful for the great care from the St. Luke’s team.”
“People can live for decades with congestive heart failure when it’s managed appropriately,” shared Dr. Kopec. “The interesting thing about AFib is close to four out of 10 people cannot tell their heart is beating fast and erratically. They progressively become short of breath and that’s how they present. Six out of ten individuals notice a rapid heartbeat, followed by shortness of breath and often chest pain. With both examples, it’s important to get it checked as soon as possible to control it, because if it’s uncontrolled for too long it can lead to congestive heart failure.”
Close to four out of 10 people cannot tell their heart is beating fast and erratically.
McConnell sees Dr. Kopec for regular check-ups and isn’t letting her diagnosis slow her down. McConnell continues to work and can do just about everything she wants to do.
We encourage you to make your annual check-up with your UnityPoint Clinic healthcare provider a priority this year. Schedule your appointment today. If you don’t have a regular doctor, visit bit.ly/RequestUPH to find a list of providers welcoming new patients.
Heart disease and strokes often have no signs or symptoms. St. Luke’s Heart Check is a series of five tests to assess heart, vascular and stroke health. The cost for all five tests plus a consultation with a St. Luke’s heart care expert is $195. A comprehensive blood test is also available for $40. Heart Check is open to anyone concerned about their heart health. All tests are performed at St. Luke’s during one appointment.
Upcoming dates:
March 16
April 20
May 18
June 15
July 20
August 17
September 21
October 19
November 16
To schedule an appointment for a Heart Check screening, call (319) 369-8129
Equipment upgrades in the Nassif Heart Center include interventional imaging technology in the heart catheterization labs. These machines provide optimal X-ray imaging and ultra-low dose radiation.
When it comes to matters of the heart there is no need to travel to receive world-class care, it’s available in Cedar Rapids at the Heart & Vascular Institute (HVI).
Formed in 2015, HVI is a collaboration between St. Luke’s Hospital, St. Luke’s Cardiology and the cardiovascular surgeons from Physicians’ Clinic of Iowa. The establishment of the institute is built on the long history of leadership
and innovations in heart care excellence. The goal of HVI is to provide Eastern Iowans access to the highest level of cardiac care, so patients won’t need to leave Cedar Rapids for heart care.
“I would estimate we have the expertise to treat 98 percent of heart-related issues, so patients are able to stay close to home,” shared Richard Kettelkamp, DO, St. Luke’s Cardiology. “The Heart and Vascular Institute allows our
cardiologists to sub-specialize, which provides Eastern Iowans with access to a team of heart specialists with advanced training and expertise. HVI cardiologists are on the forefront of the newest procedures, technology and research.”
One area where HVI is a leader in heart care is with procedures like transcatheter aortic valve replacement also known as TAVR. It’s a minimally invasive, catheter-based procedure to replace the aortic valve in patients with aortic stenosis (narrowing of the aortic valve opening) instead of undergoing open heart surgery. Left untreated, aortic valve stenosis can lead to more serious heart problems.
St. Luke’s is the only hospital in Iowa to receive the American College of Cardiology (ACC) Transcatheter Valve Certification. This award means St. Luke’s has demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating aortic stenosis patients with TAVR repair and replacement procedures. St. Luke’s TAVR team is made up of Drs. Richard Kettelkamp, Aref Bin Abdulhak, Fahed Al Darazi, Ojas Bansal, Laila Payvandi, Garry Weide and Tyrone Galbreath, with support from Linn County Anesthesiology. It has performed nearly 300 TAVRs, the most in Cedar Rapids. St. Luke’s TAVR team is also lending its expertise by assisting UnityPoint Health – Allen Hospital in Waterloo start a similar program. St. Luke’s is a regional leader in this procedure.
“This certification is proof of the dedication of our team in providing the best outcomes to our patients,” said Dr. Kettelkamp. “It means we have an established, proven program that patients can be confident in when they choose St. Luke’s for their TAVR procedure and heart care.”
HVI offers many other advanced procedures often found only in larger cities, with academic medical centers. These procedures include Watchman for individuals with atrial fibrillation (AFib). This condition can cause blood clots, which increase the risk of stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications. Watchman is a permanent heart implant that reduces stroke risk.
HVI providers recently started offering a new procedure known as MitraClip. This is a minimally invasive option for individuals with mitral valve regurgitation, a heart valve disease where blood leaks backward in the heart because the mitral valve does not close tightly. MitraClip is a non-surgical option for individuals who are too high-risk for open heart surgery. St. Luke’s is the only hospital in Cedar Rapids offering both the Watchman and MitraClip procedures.
These recent medical firsts follow a long history of heart care excellence and advancements since surgeons performed the first open heart surgery in Cedar Rapids at St. Luke’s in 1978. St. Luke’s is the only hospital in Cedar Rapids that’s been nationally honored six times as a top cardiovascular hospital. In fact, St. Luke’s holds numerous quality and safety awards from the American Heart Association. This recognition includes Action Registry Platinum Performance
Achievement Advanced Certification in Heart Care and a Chest Pain Center Accreditation with Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) and Resuscitation for our ER.
Our team is able to quickly diagnose and effectively treat heart attack patients.
“All of these earned accolades confirm that we provide exceptional cardiovascular care,” said Dr. Kettelkamp. “Our team is able to quickly diagnose and effectively treat heart attack patients. When you choose St. Luke’s for your heart care, you are choosing the area’s largest cardiology practice that treats more patients annually and performs the most heart procedures. Experience matters.”
This expertise is supported by recent equipment upgrades and renovations at St. Luke’s Nassif Heart Center. The hospital recently completed a $5 million renovation project, which included $3 million in equipment upgrades, including the latest in cardiovascular imaging technology.
“We have expanded our horizons in cardiac imaging and have a fellowshiptrained structural interventionalist,” shared Dr. Kettelkamp. “These specialized cardiologists, along with the new technology, really go hand-in-hand with some of the more advanced procedures and techniques we are pioneering. The new imaging system delivers optimal image quality at the lowest radiation level, making it safer for our patients.”
When you have the facts, the choice is clear. Choose St. Luke’s when it comes to matters of the heart. Make your appointment today, call (319) 364-7101 or go online and schedule a visit by using Find a Doctor at unitypoint.org.
Scan our QR code to see the facts about why St. Luke’s leads with heart. With over 43 years of open heart surgery experience, our surgeons, cardiologists and heart care team continue to excel at innovation, technology and patient care. See the difference for yourself.
When Molly and Alex Laban decided to start a family, they didn’t realize just how soon their wish would come true. Amid COVID-19, the derecho and during what seemed to be a typical pregnancy, Molly began having contractions. The problem was – she was only about 27 weeks along.
“I started having what I thought were Braxton Hix contractions,” Molly recounted. “When they persisted, I drove to UnityPoint Health - Finley Hospital in Dubuque and texted my husband that I was going to get checked, just to be safe.”
Because of COVID-19 and Alex’s job, FaceTime and texting had been the typical form of communication between Alex and Molly throughout her pregnancy. They live just outside of Cascade, and Alex is a powerline technician who frequently works out of town. At that time, he was helping with derecho storm recovery in Cedar Rapids.
At the hospital, Molly found out that she wasn’t simply experiencing false labor pains. “They monitored my contractions and checked to see if I was dilated. When I saw the look on my nurse’s face, I asked, ‘Am I in labor?’ and the nurse said, ‘You’re beyond labor; you’re having this baby!’”
Fortunately, the same night Molly was admitted to Finley, Krista Husemann, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner from St. Luke’s Hospital, was covering a shift there. She knew Molly’s baby would need the specialized Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) from St. Luke’s, so she called for the NICU transport team, which arrived via LifeGuard Air Ambulance.
“We didn’t know how long the delivery would take,” Husemann said. “Once the transport team was on its way, we got ahold of Alex.”
Molly and Alex Laban with son, Koen. Photo Credit: Vanessa Irene Photography“I started driving to Cedar Rapids, but they said Koen wasn’t going to wait,” Alex said. “About halfway to Dubuque, they suggested I stop for a FaceTime call, so I didn’t miss the delivery.”
Only a few hours after being admitted, Molly delivered a two-pound, 12-ounce baby boy. “Right away, Koen was having some respiratory distress,” Husemann continued. “So, I intubated him and placed umbilical lines. The transport team was there in time for the delivery. Once the Finley team stabilized Koen, we immediately transferred him to St. Luke’s.”
Molly and Alex joined Koen the next day. He was placed in an incubator, where NICU staff could monitor his vital signs. He also needed a feeding tube and a ventilator to help him breathe. Additionally, he had a small brain bleed that can be common in premature babies. “It was scary and overwhelming to walk into the NICU with all the monitors buzzing,” Molly and Alex remembered.
“Koen would have episodes where his oxygen and heart rate would decrease or he’d stop breathing,” Molly said. “If he didn’t start again in a couple of seconds, the nurses would rub his belly or back to get him to wake up and breathe.”
For the first week of Koen’s stay, Molly and Alex interacted with him while he was inside of the incubator. “It was so hard not to be able to hold him,” Molly said.
Koen was discharged in early November, a few days before his original due date. He left the hospital without the aid of any machines and weighing a healthy seven pounds, 14 ounces.
If you or someone you know would like to learn more about the specialized care at St. Luke’s NICU and Birth Care Center, or to schedule a tour, call (319) 369-8129.
Level III Maternal and Neonatal Center
“When we were finally able to hold him, he was so tiny,” Alex described. “Both his head and back fit into the palm of my hand.”
During the remainder of Koen’s 82-day stay, Molly and Alex utilized the Ronald McDonald Family Room at St. Luke’s. It allowed them to recharge and rest while being near their son.
“Molly was here all the time,” said Husemann. “And, because the derecho brought Alex to Cedar Rapids, he and Molly could be together and support each other. They were able to give Koen the kind of care and nurturing that is so important during a baby’s development.”
“When someone has a baby as early as Molly did, it can be a traumatic event,” said Maureen McDermott, St. Luke’s Neonatology Physician Assistant, who provided care for Koen at St. Luke’s. “Molly was incredibly resilient. She basically walked into the hospital and delivered quickly without her husband there. I’m sure it was terrifying for her. And then she was here to provide most of the care for him. She was very good.”
“Everybody in the NICU was wonderful,” Molly said. “I can’t even explain how great the nurses, doctors and nurse practitioners were. They literally got us through our days. They were really caring and walked us through everything. They gave us daily pep talks and helped us every step of the way.”
St. Luke’s is the only Level III Maternal and Neonatal Center in Cedar Rapids as determined by the American Academy of Pediatrics. It has the area’s most experienced neonatologists and staff and is certified to care for fullterm babies as well as very low birth weight babies (those weighing less than 3 lbs., 5 oz.). That means except in very rare occasions, such as surgical emergencies, your baby should never need to be transferred out of Cedar Rapids if you start at St. Luke’s. We also accept transfers from Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids.
Ronald McDonald Family Room
Several years ago, St. Luke’s and Ronald McDonald House Charities partnered to create Eastern Iowa’s first Ronald McDonald Family Room at St. Luke’s.
The facility includes three sleeping rooms; two shower suites; laundry facilities; and kitchen, dining and living areas. Other amenities include a family meal program, as well as a coffee and cookie cart.
For more information or to volunteer at the Ronald McDonald Family Room, contact Lynn Butterbrodt at lbutterbrodt@rmhc-eiwi.org or (319) 369-5192
LifeGuard Air Ambulance Neonatal Transport
St. Luke’s highly experienced LifeGuard Air Ambulance crew has logged thousands of flights during its 40-plus years serving the Cedar Rapids community and Eastern Iowa. Its around-the-clock emergency and criticalcare transportation services are used in emergency situations to reach accident victims and patients in rural areas. LifeGuard also brings high-risk infants to St. Luke’s Level III Maternal and Neonatal Center when they need specialized care and can transport patients to distant facilities when needed.
Both his head and back fit into the palm of my hand.
I can’t even explain how great the nurses, doctors and nurse practitioners were.Maureen McDermott, PA
The arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine is giving hope to an end of the global pandemic. This is especially true for many front line healthcare workers who have been caring for COVID-19 patients for nearly a year. It’s been a time filled with fear, uncertainty, loss, resilience and victories – but the COVID-19 vaccine signifies a light at the end of a long tunnel. It’s also a moment for reflection as care for COVID-19 patients continues.
“You don’t know if you are going to be that person who comes to the hospital with COVID and ends up in the ICU on
a ventilator,” shared Sarah Eberly, St. Luke’s ICU nurse. “It can happen to anyone, and that’s why people need to continue wearing their masks, washing their hands, skipping large group gatherings and limiting grocery store visits. All of this is hard. We don’t like it either, but the vaccine is here. We just have to pull together and hold on just a little bit longer.”
“I am grateful for the vaccine,” said Rachel Zimmer, St. Luke’s patient care technician. “This is what we have been waiting for. This is the moment we wanted on every hard day when we weren’t sure we would make it through. As a person who has watched people young and old die from COVID, there was no doubt in my mind I was going to get the vaccine. Not only for myself, but for those we lost. This is for them.”
“It can be incredibly challenging to take care of COVID patients,” said Jenna Kuehner, St. Luke’s IV therapy/critical care float nurse. “Whether you are an ICU nurse or a medical floor nurse, your goal is getting your patient better and getting them home or to their next level of care. Some days are harder than others. Sometimes you feel like you are working so hard, yet not getting anything accomplished. Other days you are celebrating the smallest things, hoping that what you are doing is making a difference.”
Throughout the pandemic, the St. Luke’s team has taken on the role of surrogate family members for their patients and one another.
“I’m grateful to work with some of the best,” said Kuehner. “The support from our community that healthcare workers received during this pandemic has been wonderful and helped to keep up our morale. Lastly, I’m grateful for my health and that I have remained able to work and assist in caring for our patients.”
“I work with one of the best teams out there, who go the extra mile to make their patients more comfortable and help them heal,” said Zimmer.
Now as the COVID-19 vaccine reaches more people, St. Luke’s front line team looks to the future.
“We come to work, day in and day out to take care of your loved ones,” Eberly shared. “We are doing the best we absolutely can. Everyone on our team is there when patients need us the most. I think people should know that, but if you don’t have to come see us, our great team, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. When patients leave the ICU, I usually say to them, ‘I hope I don’t see you again.’ And I mean this in the best possible way.”
“I will never forget how resilient our staff members have been,” Kuehner said. “Coming to work, day-after-day and giving their all, even when they are scared or physically and emotionally exhausted. The teamwork I have witnessed at St. Luke’s during this pandemic is something that has been amazing to be a part of.”
One thing is uniform for the front line team, there is much to be thankful for.
“After seeing what our patients and families have to go through and how emotionally draining it can be, this year has really made me appreciate my family, loved ones and all the members of the hospital staff so much more,” said Kaeley Hogan, St. Luke’s ICU secretary.
“I’m an ICU nurse through and through,” shared Eberly. “I can’t imagine leaving the bedside. Every day I come into work and it’s something different. I like learning new things. I think many nurses will stay at the bedside as well, just to pass on their knowledge of what we did during the pandemic. Years from now, people are not going to believe all this ever happened and I’m going to say, ‘I lived through it,’ and it’s something that will need to be shared for years to come.”
Treated 900 COVID-19 inpatients to-date
83% survival rate for hospitalized COVID-19 patients
3,171 first doses of COVID vaccine given to team members
2,615 second doses of vaccine to team members
88% of team members chose to receive the COVID vaccine
55 investigational monoclonal antibody therapy, bamlanivimab infusions administered
278 convalescent COVID plasma transfusions (2020)
2,344 first doses of vaccine to community members
The support from our community that healthcare workers received during this pandemic has been wonderful.
Because of this, it’s even more critical to have your health in the best possible shape.”
It’s often during these annual appointments, elevated blood pressure, diabetes and depression are identified. Annual physicals are also an opportunity to schedule cancer screening appointments like colonoscopies and mammograms.
“Keeping current on vaccines is also important,” said Wall. “Receiving the flu and pneumococcal vaccines is especially critical for individuals who qualify because if they do get COVID, a secondary pneumonia may be what affects people. We haven’t seen influenza in the community yet, but I can imagine it would be difficult to have the flu and COVID at the same time. These vaccines may help prevent more complications.”
If you’re thinking of skipping your annual physical during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s not advised. Healthcare providers are encouraging you to make and keep routine health screening appointments.
“We are mostly back to seeing the same number of patients we saw before COVID,” shared Philly Wall, PA-C, UnityPoint Clinic Family Medicine – Medical District. “However, we continue to have individuals who are not comfortable coming into the clinic. Unfortunately, many of these patients are the ones who tend to have other medical issues, and if they were to get COVID, they’d be more likely to have a negative outcome.
“Cancers can grow during the year since your last screening,” Wall explained. “Unfortunately for some, this could be the year they develop cancer, and if there’s a delay in diagnosis and treatment, outcomes may be worse. COVID is a scary virus. It can cause problems, but we are taking every precaution to keep patients safe. I think it’s highly unlikely someone would contract COVID by coming into a clinic setting.”
UnityPoint Health hospitals and clinics take cleaning very seriously and follow CDC guidance on disinfection. Healthcare workers wear masks and other personal protective equipment, wash their hands frequently, practice social distancing and are being vaccinated.
One final note about overall wellness from Wall: Get moving.
“I know exercise is hard, especially now, but we need to be creative in the way we move around within our own space,” Wall shared. “I see some people becoming more apathetic with their diet and more sedentary. I encourage people to shut off the television, quit video games, climb their stairs multiple times or go for a walk outside when the weather allows. Try to get back to a healthy lifestyle. It’s good for your physical and mental health.”
If you don’t have a regular healthcare provider, go to unitypoint.org/findadr to choose one that’s right for you.
UnityPoint Health is opening a second UnityPoint Clinic – Express location on Collins Road, near Lindale Mall on April 5.
UnityPoint Clinic – Express at Lindale is the second clinic of its kind in the area and will focus on convenience and personalized care.
The clinic will feature a time-saving process that aims to get patients in and out in less than 30 minutes.
On-site prescription medications will also be available for added convenience. The Express experience will include thoughtful amenities like complimentary ice packs, warm blankets, hot tea and WiFi.
Launched in late 2019 our podcasts are designed to inform, educate and empower listeners to live their healthiest lives.
Our host is Chief Medical Officer Dr. Dustin Arnold. Each week he is joined by a local UnityPoint Health expert as they take a deep dive into health and wellness topics.
Join Dr. Arnold as he interviews Dr. Tyrone Galbreath, cardiothoracic surgeon, and Marcus Cooper, St. Luke’s surgical technologist, about Medicine: Color, Culture and Equity.
LiveWell Talk On is available for free at unitypoint.org/talkon or wherever you get your podcasts.
The new UnityPoint Clinic – Express at Lindale will open this coming spring at 151 Collins Rd. NE in Cedar Rapids. Hours of operation will be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., including weekends and holidays.
In addition to treating non-emergency conditions such as colds, flu, sore throats and minor sports injuries, the clinic will offer additional services, including school/sports physicals, flu shots and after-hours occupational health services.
Beginning April 5, individuals may walk in to UnityPoint Clinic - Express at Lindale or go online and make an appointment at unitypoint.org/urgentcare
UnityPoint Health - St. Luke’s Hospital is embarking on a $14 million inpatient modernization project that will result in a greatly improved environment of care for its medical and surgical patients.
The planned renovation of St. Luke’s third floor will completely replace the current medical/surgical inpatient units, which were built in the 1950s and 60s. Patients will enjoy larger private rooms with plenty of space for visiting family and friends and advanced technology to meet their needs for different levels of care. Other improvements include a new, more efficient call-light system and wider, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant doorways to each patient’s private bathroom.
St. Luke’s Foundation is supporting the modernization project through a capital campaign called, “Because of You.” One million dollars towards the project is coming from the estate of the late Stephen W. Benda.
Construction will start in May and is expected to be complete July 2022.
To learn more about the Because of You campaign and how you can help St. Luke’s transform care in Eastern Iowa, call St. Luke’s Foundation at (319) 369-7716.
