Ann Widick Giganti

Ann brings us into her family with this recounting of the baby they adopted, and how that decision led to better outcomes for more premature infants. Heather was born very premature, and was unable to breathe on her own so the doctors performed a tracheotomy for a breathing tube. That put the infant in constant risk of the tube plugging or an infection developing. It also meant that she was unable to talk since air was not passing her vocal chords. Telling this story means also talking about the state/county Child Welfare Services, and the dysfunction of how they decide whether or not to approve or delay different options; the problems of obtaining good healthcare if you are on Medical Assistance (which foster children are) and how some physicians treat the caretaker as if they are irresponsible and ignorant. Ann was open to talking with any family that had a child with a tracheotomy, and shared her connections and tips freely. She has a background in basic nursing, but she was motivated to go for licensure as Nurse Practitioner, once Heather no longer needed intensive care. In the process, she researched airway problems in premature infants and spread the word about safer methods at medical conferences.
While there were a few places where some editing could have been used, it didn't bother me. When someone (who feels like she could have been a friend) is pouring out their story, you don't critique the presentation.… (más)