They couldn't have anticipated then how important that preparation would be.
Acting Fast in an Emergency
The twins were born at Riverview Medical Center four weeks early, after an emergency situation arose for Kelli. Under the care of her OB/GYN, Hiroshi Iwamaye, M.D., the delivery went smoothly and Kelli had an exceptional experience, praising the care and skill of the Riverview team.
Kelli, 37, spent the summer enjoying her time with the twins, but everything changed when the family went to the Jersey Shore for Labor Day weekend.
"We were just playing on the activity mat," she recalls. "One second Gavin was smiling, but then he spit up and all of a sudden it seemed like he couldn't catch his breath. I could tell he wasn't breathing."
David started CPR while Kelli called an ambulance. By the time the emergency medical response team arrived, Gavin was listless. They rushed him to a local hospital, where he was immediately transferred to K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.
A Crucial Diagnosis
A team of doctors and nurses immediately began tests. Richard Sultan, M.D., a pediatric neurologist, ruled out seizures as a diagnosis. Under the direction of Michael Graff, M.D., a neonatologist from K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital, the twins were tested for and diagnosed with obstructive apnea.
"Obstructive apnea is a condition where infants appear to be breathing but no air is going into their bodies. These infants may look like they're panicking and may turn red or blue," explains Dr. Graff. "It's fairly common in premature babies like Jack and Gavin, and it can cause SIDS, so it must be monitored closely."
Jack and Gavin were discharged with monitors to check oxygen levels, chest movements, and heart rate. If breathing is compromised, an alarm goes off. Commonly, this treatment can be stopped after six to 12 months — as the babies outgrow the condition.
And Kelli and David are again taking precautions. They invited 14 friends and family members to their home for free CPR training, led by a team of experts from Meridian, so that they can help in the event of another emergency. Kelli is thinking of ways to get more people this much needed CPR education, and hopes her experience will shed light on the importance of CPR training.
"I'm not sure everyone knows how important it is to learn infant CPR," she says. "It saved Gavin's life."
About the Doctor
- Michael A. Graff, M.D.
Board certified in Pediatrics & Neonatal Medicine
Neptune, NJ | 732-776-4283
