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In This Issue:
Team Brigham member Mike gillett with his wife Whitney and children Fehr and Wells.
Mike Gillett has a lot of inspiration to keep him focused during the Boston Marathon—25 pounds of it, to be exact. His 10-month-old son Wells, who had only a 10 percent chance of survival at birth, is the reason Mike joined Team Brigham this year. Wells is healthy today thanks to the care he and mom Whitney received at BWH's Center for Fetal Medicine before his birth.
The couple's roller coaster journey began when Whitney's 18-week ultrasound at another hospital revealed extra fluid in her baby's lung. She saw a BWH specialist one month later, and by then, the situation had worsened: fluid was in both lungs and surrounded the baby's abdomen and head. She was admitted immediately. "Dr. (Steve) Ringer spoke candidly to Mike and me, and told us they'd never seen a case like this," Whitney said.
Using ultrasound guidance, a team of physicians guided needles into the fetal chest to drain the fluid around both fetal lungs. After surgery, the fetus gradually recovered. Wells was born one month early and received care in the NICU for a week before he was healthy enough to go home with his parents and big sister Fehr. "It was a miracle," Whitney said.
"The doctors at BWH remained steadfast and continued to keep our spirits up," Mike said. The couple recalled the kindness of Rosemary Reiss, MD, many nurses and a group of residents who were in the birthing room with Whitney. "They were amazing and really supported me," said Whitney, who also appreciated a chaplain who brought her peace by praying with her before the birth.
"We left the hospital saying we wanted to show our appreciation for what the Brigham did for us," Whitney said. Mike, an avid runner, decided that joining Team Brigham, which raises money for BWH community health programs, was the perfect thank you.
On April 17, Whitney, Fehr and Wells, as well as many family and friends, will cheer on Mike as he passes through Wellesley on the 26.2-mile course with Team Brigham. Next year, Whitney hopes to join him.
www.brighamandwomens.org/teambrigham