A new mother gave birth. COVID-19 would be her next battle

BY KAYLA GREEN

It took two weeks for the new mom to fight her way back from COVID-19's death grip before she could cradle her daughter in her arms. When she handed her to the nurse, she didn't know if it would be for the last time.

Shaquilla James returned in May to McLeod Health Clarendon to donate plasma in the hopes the antibodies in her blood from the coronavirus can help save someone else. She was met with tears.

Tears from the nurses who cared

for her as she gave birth while being the first COVID-19-positive pregnant woman to do so in McLeod's seven-hospital system. Tears from her midwife. From her Nurse Family Partnership nurse, who has been working with the first-time mom since she was six weeks pregnant. From basically anyone, whether they watched her story unfold or heard it after the outcome was clear.

As if motherhood, especially for the first time, isn't an emotional enough experience to navigate, throw in a highly contagious respiratory illness whose ongoing pandemic means she had to choose either her mother or her sister to be in the delivery room with her and that the only thing she could see were masks, gloves, gowns, eyes and foreheads.

It started with a cough. When the ambulance came to pick her up after her water broke last month, she could barely get dressed. "I was so weak and tired from the coughing," James said.

When Aubree Pearson was born, they asked James if she wanted to isolate herself from her newborn.

"At first, I said no, but then I changed my mind because I didn't want nothing to happen to my baby," she said, tears rolling behind her mask at any mention of the bundled girl sleeping in her Nurse Family Partnership nurse's arms a few feet away.

James got worse fast. They moved her to the ICU but soon had to put her on a ventilator and transfer her to McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence. She said she was asleep for two or three days. Hospital staff say it was longer. "When I woke up, they explained what had happened. I couldn't talk, so Kelly (Orton, a nurse in the Medical ICU in Florence) gave me a paper and pen to write down what I wanted to say, and I said, 'Please don't leave me,'" James said. "And she never left me."

Her daughter was motivation to get better, she said. Nurses printed pictures James' mother and sister sent of Aubree and hung them up in the hospital.

Hearing both Mom and baby were back at the hospital, this time on their own terms, nurses and her midwife all came in to say hello.

When moms get sick and have to be transferred to Florence, where there's a higher level of trauma services, they sometimes lose contact for a few days, left wondering how they're doing. "The sad thing is we don't get to see them necessarily (when they do get better), so it was really good to get to

Shaquilla James 'I will be a living testimony' SHE NOW WANTS TO TELL HER STORY

come back and see her," said Tom Chappell, the McLeod Women's Care Clarendon certified nurse midwife who delivered Aubree.

More than a nurse

Alison Baggette works with 31 first-time mothers-to-be in Clarendon County through McLeod Health's Nurse Family Partnership. James tested positive before she had her baby, and now a mom with a 5-month-old has it. Both babies tested negative.

Baggette's job is to work with the program participants through pregnancy and until the baby turns 2. She helps prepare them for motherhood, connects them with resources and talks through their fears. She helps them get a job. She helps them finish school. Whatever they need. She's like a walking, breathing, individualized new-mom encyclopedia.

Participants are often teenagers but are also in their 20s and 30s – James is 26 – and looking for extra support. "These moms, we don't just see them a couple times. I've been there since she was six weeks pregnant," Baggette said.

When James was fighting for life, Baggette was still supporting them. "I went into thinking about the child that was 3 days old without her mama that she's heard since she was 16 weeks pregnant. Her mama's voice, this voice was taken away from her, and that's all she knows because she can't see," she said.

Baggette had to prepare. Emotions aside. "I had to go to her sister, who has never had a child, and her mom and just educate them," she said.

She brought them diapers and taught them how to install the car seat, how to make the newborn's sleeping space safe. Everything in a few hours.

All while checking on James in the hospital.

'I will be a living testimony' James doesn't know how she contracted the virus. She's

been staying home. She was embarrassed. "Being from a small town, everyone's going to hear you got it. But Lord, being through what I went through, I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy," she said.

She now wants to tell her story because people need to take this virus seriously, she said. "When I was laying in that bed with that tube in my throat, I said, 'Lord, if you get me out of this, I will be a living testimony to how wonderful you are,'" she said. "For everybody else, stay home. Just stay home. Wash your hands. Try not to get

it. Because it can kill you. And you're going to be by yourself. We have great doctors here. My god, they're so good. But there's nothing like your family."

James is one of a growing number of recovered COVID-19 patients who is now giving back by donating plasma to be given to critically ill patients.

McLeod participated early on in a study through Mayo Clinic to test the effects of such convalescent plasma, and Dr. Catherine Rabon, a hospitalist and McLeod Health Clarendon's chief medical officer, said results remain promising. "It's a good way for someone who is frustrated by having to quarantine ... They feel like the virus has taken over their life. It's empowering for them because they can take control and help somebody else," Rabon said. "It gives them a sense of community."

James knows she could very well not be here. She wants to help however she can, starting with issuing a constant flow of thanks to those who stood in as and with her family. "When I first got her back, I didn't know whether to cry or smile. It was just so many emotions," she said. "Even now, I just look at her. I'll just stare at her. Oh my god. I love my baby."

Lifestyle Options:

• Apartment Homes • Assisted Living • Memory Care • Skilled Nursing

COVENANT PLACE Call us today to learn more about our lifestyle options! COVENANT PLACE EVEN DURING COVID-19 WE OFFER WORRY-FREE LIVING

Sumterʼs Only Full Service Continuing Care Retirement Community

2825 Carter Road | Sumter, South Carolina 29150 | 803-469-7007 | www.covenantplace.org Covenant Place is a locally owned, not-for-profi t, continuing care community. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.

Covenant Place offers services and connection IN A TIME DEFINED BY DISTANCE

Moving into an assisted living facility during a viral pandemic may sound scary. But what better way to stay in control than to plan your future on your terms?

The COVID-19 pandemic Families are not getting together. service has been improved to is impacting our older Connections with others are a accommodate those who desire adult community in vital key to successful aging. It's to dine in their home. The many ways. Not only are important to know that seniors Covenant Cash & Carry is open to the medical complications and need to be encouraged to ask assist residents in staying home, mortality risk greater for an older for help, including with the use of and personal shopping has been adult, but the crisis also adds technology so they can engage implemented to prevent our older another layer of mental health with others. adults from shopping externally. challenges. Even during “normal” Living in a retirement The use of technology has been times, boredom, isolation and community can help overcome upgraded to assist residents in loneliness combined with illness, many of the concerns that communicating with loved ones grief, loss and nutrition are all COVID-19 has presented. via video conferencing. Staff is concerns for seniors. COVID-19 Distancing measures are in place always accessible to help. has certainly exacerbated worries and adjustments have been made Call Covenant Place today at due to public health actions such at Covenant Place to help seniors (803)-469-7007 or visit online as social distancing. Although continue living at their best even at www.covenantplace.org to necessary to help prevent the during a pandemic. Residents are learn more about how you or your spread of infection, this isolation overcoming boredom, isolation loved one can live worry free - can also increase stress and and loneliness by having others even during COVID-19. Although anxiety and add concerns of close by in their lifestyle option, the older adult community is nutrition and safety. whether it be independent more vulnerable, the rest of A tragedy of this pandemic living, assisted living, memory us can learn from them. Their is the social disconnection care or skilled nursing. All the resilience will inspire and teach between older adults and others. services and amenities are right us how to cope with the current Bridge clubs, book groups, at home for those who live there. crisis and move forward stronger Bible studies and other social Restaurant dining is open and as a society with better sense of outlets are not occurring. Seniors following the CDC and state perspective. are rarely leaving their homes. recommendations. Meal delivery PAID ADVERTISEMENT

R. Charles Hurst, Jr., DMD Adult General Dentistry 803-469-2062

NOW SCHEDULING APPOINTMENTS MONDAY - THURSDAY 40 Wesmark Ct. Sumter, SC 29150 Hours by Appointment SAME DAY APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE

NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS Have you been diagnosed with sleep apnea and would like an alternative to CPAP? THERE IS A SOLUTION!

B r e a t h e B e t S l e e p e e p B e t t e r B e t t e r t o L i v e B e t t e r

803-469-2062 snorenomore@ftc-i.net Sleep apnea affects 1 in 5 people 80% of those are undiagnosed. Sleep apnea can contribute, worsen or lead to serious health issues such as high blood pressure, heart issues, stroke and diabetes.