LEFT: Lucas and Alyson Krillies with son, Niko, and daughter, McKenna. RIGHT: Alyson with Dr. Kristen Barrie, the anesthesiologist who held her hand throughout her life-saving surgery.
Everything changes But before Alyson had the chance to hold Niko, she started feeling sick. Alyson remembers the day like it was yesterday: “All of a sudden, I felt hot, really strange and very sick. The next thing I knew, nurses were rushing into the room.”
“We felt Alyson was having an amniotic fluid embolism,” says Dr. Von Thron. “This is where the amniotic fluid that surrounds the baby gets into the bloodstream. Normally, this can cause a cardiac event and causes your blood not to clot. Most people this happens to do not survive. It’s extremely serious.” Immediately, Alyson was rushed to the operating room and the team began implementing the postpartum hemorrhaging protocol. The entire team took action.
A life-and-death situation
with me. She never let go of my hand. It was incredible.” There was controlled chaos in the room, but Dr. Barrie continued to reassure Alyson. “It’s important to show a patient we care, because that’s everything,” says Dr. Barrie. “It’s really the heart of what we do.”
Gratitude and joy The entire OB team at Florida Hospital Tampa’s Women’s Health Pavilion worked together to save Alyson’s life. “Everyone was amazing,” she says. “The expertise, the knowledge, the care that was provided to me was unbelievable. I am so thankful for all of them. I am here because of them.” Today, Niko is a thriving toddler full of energy. Alyson and Lucas are enjoying life with their family in Tampa Bay. “Life could not be any better,” says Alyson. “McKenna is 13 years old, and she and Niko adore each other. After everything I went through, I now have a different outlook on life and am so grateful for each new day. There is no doubt that I wouldn’t be here to share my story if it wasn’t for the doctors and staff at Florida Hospital Tampa.”
The labor and delivery nurse Alyson had spent time with immediately joined the team in the operating room. “It was scary,” says Becky Coggins, RN. “There was a point … I was watching her and I didn’t know what the outcome was going to be.” During this life-and-death situation, Alyson was awake. This was important because she was able to talk to Dr. Von Thron and the anesthesiologist, Dr. Kristen Barrie, about how she was feeling. “My anesthesiologist, Kristen, never left my side,” says Alyson. “She was there for me the entire surgery. That was exactly what I needed. I needed her. I needed a human FOR MORE INSPIRING STORIES, touch. I thought I can GO TO INSPIREDTAMPABAY.COM do this, someone is here
FLORIDA HOSPITAL (844) 804-9378 | SPRING 2017
O N A H O T J U L Y afternoon, Alyson and Lucas Krillies arrived at Florida Hospital Tampa. After nine long months, the day was finally here … they would soon meet their baby boy. Alyson’s daughter, McKenna, was anxiously waiting at home, excited to welcome her new brother. Alyson’s physician, Dr. Jim Von Thron, a board certified obstetrician and gynecologist, had sent her to Florida Hospital Tampa in possible labor. After a few hours of walking the hallway, she was dilated enough to be admitted. “Everything was great,” says Alyson. “It was going according to plan. I was in labor all night. The next morning, July 8, I gave birth to Niko at 7:20 a.m.” The healthy baby boy weighed in at 6 pounds, 15 ounces and measured 20.5 inches long. Lucas had the chance to spend time with Niko right away. The Florida Hospital Tampa nursing team taught Dad how to change, feed and swaddle the baby, almost ready to present to Mom.
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