When Alissa Cheperak’s pregnancy took a turn, the expert care at White Plains Hospital made a life-saving difference for both her and her daughter.
When Cheperak discovered she was pregnant, she and her husband, Scott, were ecstatic. The Ossining-based couple were thrilled that their hoped-for timing had worked out, and they knew exactly where to get the best obstetrical care in the region.
As a social worker and a certified case manager at White Plains Hospital, Alissa was already familiar with the world class expertise at the Hospital. She soon found the perfect doctor to see her through the next nine months: OB/GYN Dr. Dana Bryant.
at White Plains Hospital
Subtle Symptoms of Major Trouble
Cheperak sailed through her pregnancy, but in July, she began to feel unwell. “One Tuesday night, I woke up with what felt like heartburn” she recalls, “I thought, ‘I’m pregnant, and its common.’”
The next day, the pain persisted. Dr. Bryant suggested an over-the-counter antacid, then a slightly stronger version when the first didn't help. Still, Cheperak’s symptoms worsened.
A Worsening Situation
That Friday, Dr. Bryant got another call from Cheperak. “She described pain wrapping around her rib cage and radiating to her back,” Dr. Bryant says. “I advised her to go to the Emergency Department.” At White Plains Hospital, a chest X-ray and CAT scan ruled out a heart attack and pulmonary embolism, but blood tests revealed something more serious — Cheperak had HELLP syndrome:
- HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count) is a rare and potentially life-threatening pregnancy complication.
- Affecting fewer than 1% of pregnant women, HELLP can cause dangerously high blood pressure, organ dysfunction, and severe complications; as many as 24% of affected mothers and 34% of babies do not survive.
While Cheperak was seriously ill, she had not yet reached a critical stage. There is only one cure for HELLP; delivery of the baby. In Cheperak’s case, it meant giving birth very early-at 27 weeks.
Dr Bryant didn't rush Cheperak into the operating room. As soon as she was stable, Dr. Bryant performed a C-section. Cheperak’s baby, Claire, entered the world at a mere 1 lb. 10 oz.
“They showed her to us very quickly, because they had to get her hooked up to oxygen,” Cheperak says, overcome with emotion.
Unbeatable Care
Claire spent two long months in White Plains Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Whether Cheperak’s daughter needed a blood transfusion, or to have her oxygen level increased, someone was on hand to carefully make sure the task was performed.
Like many preemies, Claires health was unstable at first. When, after a month, Claire showed signs of abnormal development of blood vessels of the retina, her care team at White Plains Hospital recommended she be transferred to a hospital where she could receive even more specialized care.
Because White Plains Hospital is a part of the Montefiore Health System, Claire was able to be transferred to Montefiore Medical Center’s Wakefield Campus, where her care would continue within the same network, providing a consistent approach to treatment during a critical time.
A Triumphant Homecoming
Three months after her birth, Claire was finally ready to go home. Although she requires physical therapy, the nearly 11-month-old has been thriving from the day she arrived home.
Dr. Bryant praises Cheperak for keeping in touch as her condition worsened during the pregnancy. “If your doctor is treating you for a more common symptom, such as heartburn, and it still isn’t getting better, always be willing to speak up,” Dr. Bryant says.
Still, she adds, pregnant women shouldn’t panic if they suffer from heartburn-like sensations. “Most women aren’t going to develop HELLP syndrome,” she stresses. But there’s no better place to seek assistance than at the Hospital, she says: “We have the specialized expertise to quickly assess your situation and help you fully understand whether it is something to be concerned about, or just a normal symptom in a long pregnancy.”
Cheperak and her husband experienced firsthand how even the most carefully planned pregnancies can take unexpected turns. They feel eternally grateful for the care they received at White Plains Hospital when both mother and baby’s lives were on the line.
Learn more about Maternity Services at White Plains Hospital.