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Meet the Smith Family; Red Shoe Society
MEET THE SMITH FAMILY
The Ronald McDonald Family Room kept this Wentzville family close when it mattered most.
When Megan Smith checked into Progress West Hospital - where she normally spends her days as a nurse rather than a patient - for a scheduled C-section on August 2, 2019, she never dreamed of the journey that lay ahead.
However, just minutes after her twin daughters Nora and Josephine were born, Megan and her husband, Josh, heard the frightening words: “We need to call Children’s right away.” And in that moment, their world turned upside-down.
While doctors tried to stabilize Megan’s blood pressure, the babies were taken straight to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Nora had been born with a digestive tract abnormality that required surgery, and Josephine was in respiratory distress. Almost immediately, a transport team took Nora to St. Louis Children’s Hospital via ambulance, and Megan’s husband, Josh, followed.
With Josh and Nora at a different hospital, Megan was determined to see Josephine. She made her way to the NICU floor of Progress West, where the nurses agreed to let Megan hold her hand and stroke her face for just for a moment, and something miraculous happened.
“They were preparing to intubate her,” recalls Megan. “I just remember feeling so overwhelmed and praying that God would let her oxygen stabilize as I spoke to her and touched her. From there, she continued to improve, and over the next few days was off of oxygen support altogether and able to stay by my side.”
Meanwhile, during the first few days after the girls were born, Josh spent every waking minute
with Nora at St. Louis Children’s Hospital - more than an hour away from their home in Wentzville, Missouri. Megan and Josephine were at Progress West, and their 3-year-old daughter, Sophia, stayed with grandparents.
On Nora’s sixth day of life, she underwent a primary repair surgery and received a temporary colostomy. All the while, Josh had not left her side, other than a few short trips down the hall to the Ronald McDonald Family Room.
As soon as she was able, Megan joined Josh to be near Nora. In fact, she was able to hold Nora for the first time before they wheeled her back for surgery. As a nurse herself, Megan knew the importance of family-centered care. The Ronald McDonald Family Room made it possible for both of them to be advocates for Nora 24/7.
After five weeks, Nora was able to return home and be reunited with her twin sister, Josephine, who had spent a total of three weeks in the NICU at Progress West. Three months later, just before Thanksgiving, Nora’s colostomy was successfully reversed. Now, the girls are happy, healthy, growing babies, with a tiny scar on Nora’s belly serving as a reminder of all they have overcome.
Over the holidays, the Smiths asked family and friends to donate Wish List items to the Ronald McDonald Family Room in honor of Nora - the display of gratitude was amazing! Megan and Josh delivered two carloads of household essentials and snacks to St. Louis Children’s Hospital for other families seeking comfort and care through our Family Room Program, and we could not be more grateful for their support.
“From our family to all who donate and volunteer with RMHC, thank you,” say Megan and Josh. “Because of you, families like ours are able to focus on what really matters: our children’s health and happiness. God bless."■
CALLING ALL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS!
Are you a young professional looking to get involved with Ronald McDonald House Charities of St. Louis and meet like-minded individuals? Then the Red Shoe Society of St. Louis is for you! Learn more by visiting www.rmhcstl.com/redshoesociety. Activities include:
Providing meals for families at the Ronald McDonald Houses Planning and executing special events Professional development activities Social and networking opportunities
ST. LOUIS
