Neighbor News
Elgin mom reunites with team who saved her life, delivered her baby
Yana Zablotska, an amniotic fluid embolism survivor, returns to Advocate Sherman Hospital to thank the team who saved her life and her baby.
It was an emotional morning at Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin, Ill. when Yana and Mike Zablotska rolled a stroller with their baby, Michael Anthony, into a room filled with nurses and doctors. Tears were shed and hugs were exchanged as they greeted the team who saved Yana’s life and safely delivered baby Michael.
Two and a half months ago, Yana and Mike were a few floors above on the hospital’s labor and delivery unit ready to welcome their first child into the world. Just before giving birth Yana experienced an amniotic fluid embolism (AFE). AFE occurs when the amniotic fluid enters the mother's bloodstream and causes an allergic reaction that can lead to heart and lung failure. This rare condition impacts 1 in 40,000 births and is extremely difficult to treat. Additionally, the maternal mortality rate for AFE is as high as 80%.
Fortunately, Yana was in good hands. Victoria Bohlin, a labor and delivery nurse, observed a deceleration in the baby’s heart rate on a fetal heart monitor. She took immediate action and went to check on Yana. When Bohlin entered the room, Yana said she was not feeling well and then went into cardiac arrest. Bohlin instantly alerted the team and began giving Yana CPR.
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In a matter of minutes, Dr. Michael Riermaier successfully delivered the baby and Yana was transferred to the ICU to recover. Thanks to the quick, skilled actions of the Advocate Sherman team Yana and her baby survived the AFE with no long-term complications.
The reunion provided a special opportunity for Yana and Mike to thank the team whose care enabled their family to leave the hospital just three days after baby Michael was born.
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“It is not often that we get to see the patients we care for after they are discharged,” says Bohlin. “It is incredibly rewarding to reunite with Yana and her family, to hug her and see how well she is doing.”
Yana looks forward to telling her son about his remarkable birth story when he’s older.
“Every single person in the labor and delivery unit and the ICU at Advocate Sherman was more than phenomenal,” says Yana. “I’m so grateful to be healthy and have a healthy baby after surviving this rare condition.”
