First Birthday Takes an Unexpected Turn

Callie Swope missed her first birthday party but still managed to celebrate in style at St. Luke’s Children's Hospital in Bethlehem.

Callie’s first birthday party was scheduled a day before her actual birthday in May. Caterers and guests were all scheduled to arrive.But Callie’s mom Ashley, St. Luke’s Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care Services, knew something was off with her baby girl.

“She’s usually a happy-go-lucky girl,” Ashley said, “but she didn’t seem herself. She seemed tired, lethargic, her breathing was off.”

Ashley took Callie to The Isaacman Family St. Luke’s Children’s ER in Bethlehem as a precaution, leaving husband Chris at home to continue party preparations.  The nurse who greeted them immediately noticed there was a respiratory issue and escorted them.

“It was such a relief, being walked by Kati Shade, a nurse who was keeping me calm, and I could tell she was assessing Callie at the same time before we were greeted by the nurse from the pediatric ER team, Brittany Garris, who kept me engaged while checking Callie’s vital signs and her lungs.

“I trusted the team, knowing she was in the best hands possible,” Ashley said. “The Emergency Department resident, Dr. Christine DePope was absolutely phenomenal and said that sometimes cold air makes them breathe better, so she waited about 15 minutes before diagnosing croup and ordering a breathing treatment.”

Now Callie’s big day was in jeopardy. She needed to stay a few more hours to make sure there was no adverse reaction to the treatment.

“Everyone was so attentive to Callie and me. They kept me informed and kept checking on me.”

The cough and wheezing came back just over an hour later, so Callie was admitted to St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital for observation to make sure she could rebound on her own.

St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital is a place where compassionate care meets expertise. An experienced team of board-certified pediatric hospitalists, pediatric intensivists, pediatric specialists and pediatric nurses provide comprehensive pediatric specialty and surgical care, pediatric emergency care, pediatric inpatient care, and critical care in state-of-the-art facilities to ensure your child receives the best care possible. It’s a place that helps kids – and parents – feel better.

The staff helped gather Callie’s belongings and moved her to the pediatric unit an hour before the birthday party was scheduled to begin.

“It was a scary, emotional time,” Ashley admitted. “But everywhere we went, we were greeted with smiles. It’s scary not knowing what’s going to happen, seeing your child at their most vulnerable.”

The next morning, the hospital staff made sure Callie celebrated her birthday by sending up a special cupcake along with a small gift. She was discharged that day and back to normal by the following day.

In September, Callie was back at St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital, along with both mom and dad this time, to have tubes placed in her ears.

“There was never a question in my mind that we would go back to St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital,” Ashley said. “I would do it again in a heartbeat. Their care and compassion are unmatched.”