Patient Stories: Raegan Hemphill
Philanthropic support helps provide advanced and innovative fetal care that give babies like Raegan a chance to grow, heal and thrive before they even enter the world.
When Alexis was pregnant with her third child, a routine anatomy scan revealed fluid surrounding her unborn baby’s lungs. What initially appeared to be a minor concern quickly became a life-threatening condition. Over the following weeks, the fluid rapidly increased, putting the unborn baby at risk for severe complications, including lung problems and heart failure.
At 28 weeks pregnant, Alexis visited the Fetal Care Center at Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies, where specialists diagnosed her baby with congenital chylothorax, a rare condition that causes lymphatic fluid to collect around the lungs.
To save her unborn baby’s life and give their lungs time to develop, the care team at Orlando Health Winnie Palmer performed a minimally invasive fetal procedure to place a small shunt to drain the fluid. When the shunt later became dislodged as the baby grew, a second procedure was performed to help prolong the pregnancy and improve the baby’s chances for a healthy outcome.
Just weeks later, Alexis delivered her baby Raegan at 33 weeks. Because specialists across multiple disciplines had been coordinating her care before birth, a dedicated team was prepared for Raegan’s arrival. She spent 36 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) overcoming the challenges of prematurity before going home.
Today, Raegan is thriving and no longer requires treatment. She recently scored right on track for her adjusted age during a NICU Development Clinic visit and loves spending time with her siblings, exploring new places and playing in the water. Affectionately nicknamed "Rae of Sunshine," she brings joy to everyone around her with her smile and cheerful personality. Her family remains grateful for the coordinated, compassionate care they received throughout their journey with Orlando Health.
