Some babies spend the first weeks or even months of life in the Spartanburg Medical Center Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Family members visit the NICU so often that they form close relationships with caregivers.

Erin Metcalf gave birth to a little girl, Lorelai, in November of 2016. Her pregnancy had been normal, and the baby was born with no complications. But when her umbilical cord was cut, Lorelai was in a dangerous situation.

“Lorelai went limp and stopped breathing,” Erin said. “It was just a fluke thing.”

NICU caregivers rushed in to assess the situation. They hooked the baby up to an oxygen machine and took her to the NICU. Lorelai was there for eight hours before she began breathing safely on her own.

“It was terrifying,” Erin said. “We didn't expect to be in the NICU.”

Lorelai wasn't in the NICU as long as many infants, but the NICU still caregivers made an impression on the family.

“They were incredibly kind and compassionate,” Erin said.

Erin is a physician assistant who works in the infectious disease department at Spartanburg Medical Center. She works mostly with HIV patients. She is a donor to the Spartanburg Regional Foundation Employee Campaign, and this year she designated her gift to the Foundation's NICU Fund.

“You walk through the NICU and see all these babies that are teeny, tiny little preemies, and it's kind of heart-breaking,” Erin said. “It's amazing the things the NICU team is able to do there.”

Lorelai is now healthy and has had no developmental complications since going home. The NICU caregivers made the difference when she was in critical need.

“She wouldn't be here if they weren't able to do what they did,” Erin said.

Make a big difference in a tiny life. Donate to the NICU Fund today.