Hero nurse honored at Sleepy Hollow hospital during reunion with baby whom she saved
Emily Lena and her son, Casper, surprised nurse Keai Morris during an award ceremony that recognized Morris for her role in safely delivering the baby one year ago after a dangerous umbilical cord prolapse at Northwell Phelps Hospital.
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A heartfelt reunion at Phelps Hospital in Sleepy Hollow Sunday celebrated the extraordinary actions of a labor and delivery nurse whose quick thinking helped save the life of a newborn during a rare medical emergency.
Emily Lena and her son, Casper, surprised nurse Keai Morris during an award ceremony that recognized Morris for her role in safely delivering the baby one year ago after a dangerous umbilical cord prolapse at Northwell Phelps Hospital.
A cord prolapse occurs when the umbilical cord slips ahead of the baby during labor, allowing the baby’s head to compress the cord and potentially cut off the oxygen supply. Medical staff say it is an uncommon but life-threatening obstetric emergency that requires immediate intervention.
“She was in her early stage of labor, and she had a cord prolapse,” Morris recalled.
Lena said Morris immediately took control of the situation.
“She immediately took charge of the room,” Lena said.
To maintain oxygen flow to Casper before delivery, Morris manually elevated the baby’s head by keeping her hand in position inside the womb while the medical team rushed Lena to the operating room for an emergency cesarean section.
“We had to manually elevate the baby’s head until Casper was delivered,” Morris said.
According to Cathy Herron, directing midwife at Phelps Hospital, the procedure is rarely needed and requires extraordinary coordination.
“You literally get your hand inside and push the baby’s head up,” Herron explained. “You climb onto the stretcher with the patient as they roll you down to the O.R., and you stay there until they crawl out from underneath the drapes.”
The emergency ended with both mother and baby healthy.
“She saved his life. She saved my life too,” Lena said.
The emotional reunion was filled with hugs, tears and gratitude as the family celebrated the nurse they credit with helping bring about a miracle.
