The Simmons Family
When Kathlyn “Kat” Simmons had her gallbladder removed at 30 weeks pregnant, she and her husband, Kyle, had no idea it would be the beginning of health complications that would lead to her giving birth to Leo at 32 weeks, multiple procedures, and a week in the ICU.
Following the gallbladder surgery, Kat was diagnosed with preeclampsia, a serious pregnancy complication defined by high blood pressure. She was readmitted to USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital, and after a week was diagnosed with HELLP Syndrome, a rare and life-threatening pregnancy complication that affects blood, the liver, and blood pressure. With her severe spike in blood pressure, doctors told the young couple she would need to deliver the baby immediately.
After 20 hours of labor, Leo was born June 1 at 3 lbs., 5 oz. Fortunately, Leo had no breathing issues, but he did undergo surgery at six days old to correct intestinal malrotation and to remove his appendix. Leo’s surgery went well, and he spent several weeks recovering in the NICU.
For Kat, however, it was a different story. Following her delivery, she got to see her infant son for 15 minutes before her medical team discovered her liver had ruptured. Her blood pressure dropped dangerously low the following day, so she was transferred to University Hospital where she had a procedure to stop the bleeding in the liver. She also had a 40 percent blockage in her femoral artery, so two days later she underwent another surgery.
Four days later, she was transferred back to Children’s & Women’s. That time, however, was short lived, and she was transferred back to University Hospital ICU because the fluid had built up in her right lung, and she needed a chest tube.
“At this point, I hadn’t seen Leo in more than a week,” Kat said. “I was so sick, but all I wanted was to be with my son.”
Kyle, in the meantime, was sleeping in his car or a hospital waiting room so he could be with Leo in the NICU at Children’s & Women’s and his wife in ICU at University Hospital.
“My mother was bringing me things I needed because I didn’t want to go home,” Kyle said. “Someone at the hospital told me about the Ronald McDonald House, but since it was just me, I didn’t want to take up a room. In hindsight, I should have taken the room.”
When Kat was discharged June 13, they moved into Ronald McDonald House where they would stay until July 7.
“For me, especially, I hadn’t seen Leo for almost two weeks, and I was still in a lot of pain,” Kat said. “It was so nice to know I was just three minutes away from him, and I could go see him for an hour or so and then go back to the “Ron-Don” to rest. It was all so hard, but I felt safe, like we were right there and could get to him at anytime.”
“One of the things that stuck out to us was the dinner meals,” Kyle said. “We loved that we didn’t have to worry about dinner. On that first night I found out the House provided dinner every evening, and that night we were having meatloaf. It was the best meatloaf I’ve ever had!”
“Having a place to also cook for ourselves was so great,” he continued. “Between that and being able to take a shower and do laundry, it felt like a big home. I was super happy to have the washer and dryer so we could wash Leo’s clothes. It seems silly, but it was so nice to take him clean clothes.”
Today, Kat says she is so grateful for the connections she made with other moms from the NICU.
“We really all connected,” she said. “We have this group chat now. It’s nice to have a village of other moms who know what you’re going through, and that wouldn’t have happened without the Ronald McDonald House.”
The Simmons’ experience at Ronald McDonald House so affected them, that when a position became available for a weekend overnight manager, Kat encouraged Kyle to apply.
“I love this place,” Kyle said. “I’m happy to be here every Saturday and Sunday, helping families in the same way we were helped.”
“Helping families by supporting the Ronald McDonald House, either financially or just donating snacks, is the most direct ways to help others in need,” Kat added.
