Family faces medical bills after premature twin birth
Lily is a fighter, a very small and fragile fighter. But at only 1 pound, 13 ounces, the little girl needs the help of the South Whidbey community.
Lily is the daughter of Stephanie Sanford, a South Whidbey woman who has given a great deal to the South Whidbey community as a founding member of the Youth in Philanthropy program at Langley Middle School and many other volunteer programs.
Sanford, her husband, Christopher Sansbury and big brother Logan, 2, were awaiting the birth of Lily and her twin sister in November.
But on July 17, Sanford went into early labor. After being taken to Whidbey General Hospital, she was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, then transported to Swedish Medical Center, where the two girls were born 14 weeks early, Sanford said.
Aubrey Joy Marie was born three minutes after Stephanie arrived at Swedish, weighing 1 pound, 5 ounces. Lily Joan Celeste was born minutes later by Caesarean section, weighing 1 pound, 10 ounces.
Aubrey lived for only 11 days. She was taken off life support and then lived for 28 hours until she passed the evening of
July 28.
Aubrey was surrounded by her extended family and held by her mother and father when she died.
“I am overwhelmed,” Sanford said. “I am pretty much OK during the day. It’s at night, when
I am alone, that I break down.”
Lily’s prognosis is good, though she will remain at Swedish for at least three months until she achieves a normal birth weight.
“Lily is 12 inches long – the size of a one-pound bag of coffee,” Sanford said. “She’s tiny.”
Lily has gained a few ounces, which is a good sign, her mother said. But for the weeks to come, her condition will continue to be evaluated day to day.
Due to many recent advances, more than 90 percent of premature babies who weigh
800 grams or more – a little less than 2 pounds – survive.
Premature infants have many special needs that make their care different from that of full-term infants, which is why they often begin their lives after delivery in a neonatal intensive care unit. The NICU is designed to provide an atmosphere that limits stress to the infant and meets basic needs of warmth, nutrition and protection to assure proper growth and development.
Sanford will live in an apartment near the hospital while Lily remains in the hospital in order to have a daily presence in her daughter’s life, she said.
Meanwhile, Logan is staying with his grandparents on Whidbey Island.
“He is confused,” Sanford said. “He doesn’t understand why mommie isn’t home.”
Sanford and her family are deeply rooted on the South End.
Sanford is the daughter of Dustin and Marlene Sanford of Freeland and works with Partners in Grime Housekeeping with her mother.
Sansbury is an employee of Nichols Brothers Boat Builders.
Susie Richards, who was Sanford’s YIP teacher, said Sanford has given so much to the community that she deserves all the help she can get in return. “Stephanie is one of the kindest people I know – one who is always looking for a way to give back to her community and to others,” Richards said. “I am grateful that during this painful time in Stephanie’s life our community can come together and show her how much she and her family are cared for.”
Richards and Sanford’s mother Marlene joined forces to drum up support.
The “Sanford/Sansbury Donation Fund” has been established, and donations can be dropped off at any Whidbey Island Bank branch to help with the expenses the young family will continue to face.
They are also looking for a new place to stay. They have been living in Oak Harbor, but they want to return to South Whidbey to be closer to family, friends and the support of their local community.
If anyone is aware of a two- or three-bedroom rental in the $700 to $800 range, contact Marlene Sanford at sanford-5@hotmail.com.
