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Miracle Mother's Day Gift
Wednesday, May 7
In tonight's Medical Watch ... a complicated pregnancy that led to a risky premature birth has a happy ending just in time for Mother's Day.
Andrea Jaffray, Zachary's mother: "It really means a lot to me that everybody worked together and we have little Zachary here, my little sweetheart."
If good things come in small packages, Andrea Jaffray and her family have received the greatest present.
Dr. Jonathan Muraskas, NICU Co-director, Loyola University Hospital: "The best gift you can give a mother is a healthy baby and Zachary is pretty healthy."
And he's a miracle, considering all the obstacles the infant and his mother faced during a complicated pregnancy and premature birth.
Dr. Paula White, delivered Zachary: "There were dozens of things that could have gone wrong that didn't. A woman who stays pregnant with a broken water bag for long periods of time can develop infections, anyone placed on bed rest can develop blood clots in legs and lungs she could have gone into preterm labor, could have had bleeding."
None of that happened to Andrea ... and on April 15 her fifth son, Zachary, was born. He came eight weeks early but as healthy as he could be.
Dr. Muraskas: "Once that bag of water breaks there is a risk of infection and to be ruptured that long he had no signs of infection no significant lung problems when he was born."
Today, the doctors and nurses who cared for Zachary and his mother at Loyola University Hospital gathered to celebrate a happy ending for the Jaffray's ... who will soon take Zachary home.
Dr. Muraskas: "We're pretty optimistic that Sunday will be the day ... God willing."
Not only will the Jaffray family celebrate Mother's Day on Sunday ... they have a few birthdays to recognize. Andrea and her husband Alex as well as two of their sons, Doug and Ryan, were all born on May 11.
Copyright © 2008, WGN-TV
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