After Years-Long Journey to Parenthood, Couple “Feels like Family” at Mercy Birthplace & NICU
After a long and winding road to parenthood, Andrew and Keri Wolfe of Cedar Rapids were in search of the perfect place to bring their precious and much-anticipated child into the world. Upon touring Mercy Birthplace & NICU, they knew they had found it.
The Wolfes struggled with infertility for years before welcoming their daughter, Finley, at Mercy’s Birthplace & NICU on Feb. 9, 2024. Their journey toward parenthood began in earnest in 2020, when they moved to Cedar Rapids from Phoenix. Shortly thereafter, they began in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments. Out of 11 eggs, only seven were fertilized and just one was a viable embryo.
“We tried for three years,” Keri shared. “She’s our miracle.”
As if getting pregnant hadn’t been hard enough, Keri – a Type 1 diabetic – got sick often during pregnancy, ending up in a local urgent care clinic and ER at two different times. On one occasion when she was still feeling miserable and unhappy with the lack of care she had received elsewhere, Keri took a suggestion to try the Mercy ER in Hiawatha.
“I went over there and they immediately brought me back and started testing,” she explained. “It felt like every single doctor and nurse cared about me, my baby, my husband. They made me feel like family. It was completely, 180-degrees different than how we were being treated [elsewhere]. I had the flu and bronchitis! They were really happy I came in.”
Following this first experience with Mercy, Keri and Andrew decided to check out Mercy’s Birthplace & NICU as they were determining where to deliver their baby.
“I immediately fell in love from the moment we started our tour with Angela,” Keri continued. “I work in hospitality and Andrew works in entertainment. Basic human connection is important, and that’s what we were getting.”
And, because of Keri’s Type 1 diabetes, the expecting parents knew that Finley would likely need to spend some time in the NICU. So, after learning that 100% of Mercy’s Birthplace suites are equipped with NICU technology and seeing for themselves the largest and most private birth suites in the area, the couple was “sold.”
“We didn’t even question it,” Keri said. “It mattered to me more that I wasn’t just another patient.”
But first, she had to get through the pregnancy: After the flu and bronchitis, Keri also came down with RSV before giving birth. Expecting mothers are often encouraged to go straight to the Birthplace if they have any medical concerns, such as RSV, during pregnancy, so that’s what Keri did.
“I went to the Birthplace and they took me in immediately,” she said. “They told me they’re so glad I’m here. I felt like everyone’s been my friend for years. All of my concerns were their concerns, as well. Being a Type 1 diabetic, I’ve been in the hospital all my life. Mercy feels like family. It doesn’t feel like I’m another number.”
By the time she returned to the Birthplace a few weeks later to deliver her baby via C-section – and like any first-time mom – Keri was terrified in the operating room (OR) and “in my own head.” But, yet again, she was comforted by The Mercy Touch®.
“Kelsey R. was my nurse and it felt like she was my sister,” Kerri said. “She was next to me in the OR the entire time. She grabbed my hand and came down to my ear and whispered that everything was going to be OK. You don’t find anyone that compassionate, caring, genuine. She was so kind and gentle and what I needed.”
Then, when she was getting her epidural, Keri looked at the nurse who was holding her arms. “I said, ‘I’m not a hugger, but can I hug you?’ She just gave me the biggest hug ever and it instantly calmed me.”
While delivery went just fine, Finley did have to spend three days in the NICU (as expected) due to low blood sugars.
“This is why we chose Mercy because she might need NICU time,” Keri said. “We loved the NICU in the room. I guess I didn’t realize it was a concern of mine to be away from her, but that first night I wouldn’t have left her. It was just nice to be right there with her, knowing I couldn’t go very far.”
As a result of her many positive experiences with Mercy, Keri has begun transitioning her primary and specialty medical care to Mercy.
“We made instant connections with everyone at Mercy,” she said. So much so that the couple is even planning to start a special tradition on Finley’s birthday:
“With how comfortable everyone made us feel, we figured we’d celebrate her birthday with everyone there [at Mercy Birthplace],” Andrew shared.
That seems fitting as Mercy’s Birthplace is known for “delivering” many happy moments. There will certainly be much to celebrate!
