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News

VIEWPOINT: Donating to hospitals

  • Published
  • By Jo Ann Flaig
  • 460th Medical Group
I donate almost every year through the Combined Federal Campaign to the Loma Linda University Hospital in California.

My reason?

My expected delivery date was mid-October 1990, but throughout the pregnancy I was sick, not gaining weight and eventually put on bed rest. I went into labor on July 4, 1990 and was transferred from March Air Force Base hospital to Loma Linda University where I was given medication and kept in bed in an inverted position, until July 7, 1990, when I went into full labor.

My son was born at 1:23 a.m., July 8, 1990 weighing 1 pound 12 ounces. After the initial exam they swept him off to the newborn intensive care unit, where he, my husband and I spent the next 76 days.

Our son had been born at 26 weeks gestation and given only a 10 percent chance of surviving at all, and a lower chance of being a normal child.

He was followed closely by Dr. Cha at LLU and after a year he was given a clean bill of health. He required no surgery and had no medical issues at all! The care our son received and the support we received as a family was beyond any expectation.

My son, 22 years old and very healthy, is now taller than I am! I support LLU Hospital because of the care and expertise that gave us a healthy baby.