Tiffany and Thomas Sinodis of Cary were over the moon in February 2017 when they found out they were expecting twins. But just a few months later, in May, Tiffany started experiencing complications that lead to a completely different pregnancy journey than she had planned on.
After a series of tests, the OB-GYN physicians at WakeMed determined that her water had broken in one of the baby’s sacks. And at 23 weeks pregnant, Tiffany was admitted to WakeMed Raleigh Campus, where the nurses monitored her and the babies twice daily.
When she was 27 weeks, her second water broke. Tiffany was able to keep the babies in utero for five more days. Then, on July 19, 2017, when she was 27 weeks and 5 days, the babies were delivered via an emergency C-section. Eloise Mae weighed 2 lbs. 3 oz., and Elias Jude weighed 2 lbs. 8 oz.
Eloise and Elias were both transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) where Tiffany says they received excellent care from the physicians and nurses, and were kept updated throughout their stay.
“Having a child born so early has many issues and medical complications associated with it,” says Thomas. “But what you don’t hear or think about, until it has happened to you, is how incredibly and totally helpless it makes you feel as a parent.
“Our twins had needs that we were incapable of meeting for them. We are not trained critical care nurses, or respiratory therapists, or physicians…we could not care for our children in the ways they needed. As parents, all we could do was take a step back, trust, and pray. I think it’s a feeling any parent can relate to – to imagine seeing your child suffer and have no means to help them. It’s the scariest feeling we’ve ever experienced,” says Thomas.
In September, after spending two and a half months in the NICU, Eloise was strong enough to go home. Tiffany says it was a little overwhelming at first to have one baby at home and one baby still in the hospital. But, Elias was transferred to the Special Care Nursery at WakeMed Cary Hospital, which was more convenient for Tiffany and Thomas.
They were able to visit frequently while he reached his final milestones. And after three months total, Elias was able to go home, where Tiffany says they were able to get adjusted as a family of four. And now, thanks to the insight and care of the WakeMed staff, Eloise and Elias are strong, healthy one-year-olds, and are meeting all of their milestones.
“The staff at the WakeMed NICU not only saved our children’s lives – their compassion extended to us as the parents of their patients,” says Thomas. “They cared for and supported us through every step of our NICU journey. Their kindness is something we will never forget and will be ever grateful for.”
About Love Light
WakeMed’s annual Love Light tree lighting ceremony began in 1985 with the generosity of Dr. Bill and Colleen Lee, who donated the first Love Light tree in memory of their son, Matthew William Lee. Today, the annual tree lighting ceremony continues with the ability to make Love Light donations in honor of someone special.
Each year, a family of one of our former pediatric patients is selected to kick off our Love Light tree ceremony. This year, we are honored to have the Sinodis family light the tree. All of the proceeds earned from the Love Light ceremony directly benefit children’s services at WakeMed.
Learn more about Love Light, and make a donation here.
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