Dr. Leonard Goldsmith has cared for a lot of babies during his time as a neonatologist at Virtua Voorhees Hospital in Philadelphia, but a recent patient was an extra special case for him, after caring for her mother in the same hospital 30 years prior.
Chi Obidike was born prematurely 30 years ago, and after a good bit of time in the NICU, was able to go home and live a healthy life, eventually becoming a nurse practitioner.
Then last year on May 15, Obidike returned to the same hospital to give birth to her daughter, Myla Obidike, via emergency C-section at just 24 weeks. Myla weighed just 1 pound, 5 ounces at birth, and due to a variety of health complications, was required to spend the first 9 months of her life in the NICU.
Obidike told Good Morning America,
Knowing that I was born here early, and look at me today, [helped]. My mom was very, very, very much sure that we were exactly where we needed to be. She reminded me to never focus on how long we have been here, but focus on the fact that we are here.
Despite her very early arrival, subsequent surgery, and extended NICU stay, Myla was recently discharged from the hospital without requiring any monitors or medical equipment.
Dr. Goldsmith told reporters that Myla is now in very good health, saying,
She has good lung function and she can eat like a healthy baby, so we have very good feelings for her going forward.
This is what we all live for ... and it's very rewarding.
