Hayleigh was on top of the world. She had a wonderful daughter named Scarlett who was about to turn two years old. A loving husband, Aaron. And a brand-new baby girl on the way. Throughout Hayleigh’s pregnancy, everything was normal, and after a standard delivery, she welcomed Ruby to the world.
But then, a mother’s intuition about her baby, still so new, would end up saving her daughter’s life.
From the flu to life support in 12 hours
For the first six weeks of Ruby’s life, she was hitting all her milestone developments. But a few days after her six-week checkup, Ruby suddenly became incredibly sick. She was lethargic, vomiting, and even gasping for air.
Hayleigh and Aaron were immediately concerned, but assumed she had the nasty flu that was going around. Call it a mother’s intuition or a father’s love, but they decided to take Ruby to the hospital… just in case.
The local hospital didn’t have a pediatric unit, so Hayleigh and Ruby were immediately transferred to UC Davis Children’s Hospital, Sacramento’s only nationally ranked comprehensive hospital for children, and with a deep roster of pediatric specialists. Ruby would need all of that expertise, because when she arrived, she stopped breathing altogether.
The doctors discovered that Ruby had a congenital heart defect. Acting fast, they placed her on an ECMO machine, the most intensive form of life support that does the work of the lungs and the heart. Doctors discovered that Ruby’s aortic valve was deformed and would have to be replaced, as she wasn’t getting enough blood and oxygen to her organs.
Ruby’s family met anesthesiologist Dua Anderson and cardiac surgeon Gary Raff, who shared the news that although something was very wrong with Ruby’s heart, they and the team at UC Davis Children’s Hospital were going to be able to help. Dr. Raff explained what was happening, the plan of action, and how they were going to keep Ruby alive.
The ECMO machine kept Ruby stable for a few days while the team prepped for open-heart surgery. And within hours of taking Ruby back to the operating room, Dr. Raff and the team returned to Ruby’s parents and family to share the good news that the procedure was successful.
Ruby wasn’t fully out of the woods yet, relying on a ventilator for a few more weeks to rebuild her strength. She even had to restart learning skills such as swallowing. But one by one, her systems and organs started to function again, showing everyone that Ruby was already a fighter.
“I want to be a doctor, like one that works with families, because I know what it’s like to be younger and being a little nervous about doctors and hospitals, but I would want it to feel friendly. And I’d want to go back to UC Davis Health, because they helped me so much.”—Ruby
A care team’s dedication
The two months that Ruby spent in the hospital were an absolute blur for Hayleigh and her family, but she’ll always remember the care they received from the team at UC Davis Children’s Hospital.
“They took care of our family as much as they took care of Ruby,” explains Hayleigh.
The first day at the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Hayleigh and Ruby met Dr. Stephanie Mateev and Dr. Jennifer Plant, who kept Ruby stabilized and the family updated on her care, and that first impression stayed with Hayleigh a decade later.
“They were so great, and they were so patient,” she says.
Even when unexpected issues came up with Ruby’s gallbladder and bile duct during recovery, Dr. Raff refused to give up. He said, “We’re keeping her here [at UC Davis Children’s Hospital], and we’re going to take care of her,” recalls Hayleigh. And they did.
A doctor in the making
Thanks to the incredible team at UC Davis Children’s Hospital, Ruby is now 10 years old and has her whole life ahead of her. But she already knows what she wants to do.
“I want to be a doctor, like one that works with families, because I know what it’s like to be younger and being a little nervous about doctors and hospitals, but I would want it to feel friendly,” says Ruby. “And I’d want to go back to UC Davis Health, because they helped me so much.”