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Marine takes leave to see preemie daughter
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| | | With newborn Madison Rose behind them, parents Cristal and Lance Corporal Keith Wagenhauser meet the press at Stony Brook University Hospital last Friday. Photo by J. Choi (click for larger version) | |
November 05, 2009 | 12:30 PM
At 3 pounds 6 ounces, newborn Madison Rose Wagenhauser lay in an incubator at Stony Brook University Medical Center Friday. Close by, her father expressed how excited he was to meet his daughter for the first time, nearly a month after she arrived prematurely on Oct. 3.
Serving in the Middle East at the time of his daughter's birth, Marine Lance Cpl. Keith Wagenhauser of Middle Island was initially denied emergency leave to see his first child, who was born more than two months premature. Now stateside with his daughter and wife Cristal after his command reversed its earlier decision, Wagenhauser, 21, said it's an "overwhelming feeling" to be reunited with his family.
"I'm glad to be home to be here for her," Wagenhauser said of his newborn, who was transferred to SBUMC's neonatal intensive care unit after being born at St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center in Smithtown.
Joined by family, medical staff and U.S. Congressman Tim Bishop (D-Southampton), who contributed to appealing his command's denial to grant emergency leave, the Marine said during a press conference Friday that it was "stressful because I was so far away."
Wagenhauser, who spent the first few weeks of his daughter's life aboard a ship — exact location classified, said he is "very grateful" for the 10-day leave, which may be extended by another 10 days if approved. "She looks beautiful," Wagenhauser said of his daughter, adding that he will spend "every moment that I can with her."
Cristal Wagenhauser, who greeted her husband at LaGuardia Airport on Oct. 29, said it's "a lot easier now that he's home." While waiting at the airport, Cristal, 21, said she felt "more butterflies in my stomach" as the Marine's arrival became closer. "As I knew he was coming, I just wanted to jump up on him," she said, noting it's "great to have the support" of her husband as Madison Rose continues to receive medical care.
Dr. Joseph DeCristofaro, a neonatal physician at SBUMC, said the premature infant weighed 2 pounds 11 ounces and was suffering from respiratory distress syndrome when she arrived at the Stony Brook hospital. She continues to require oxygen support and receives nutrition through a feeding tube, according to Dr. DeCristofaro. The newborn also suffers from apnea prematurity, which leads to pauses in respiration and results in reduced heart rate and oxygen levels.
The doctor, who described Madison Rose as a "beautiful little girl," said it's "critical" for the newborn to have both parents present. "I only wish [her father] could've been here earlier," Dr. DeCristofaro said, adding "It's important to have mom and dad participate in the care of the baby."
Madison, whose expected due date is still eight weeks away, initially lost some weight before gaining five ounces, the physician said, but she is now in "positive growth days." The next step in the process, he added, will be for her to develop suck and swallow coordination to ingest baby formula.
Congressman Bishop, a father of two daughters, said he viewed Wagenhauser's situation "as a father" and felt keeping the Marine from seeing his premature newborn was "too much to ask anyone to endure." While he acknowledged the "logistical difficulties" the U.S. Marine Corps may face when dealing with certain policies, the congressman said he urged Wagenhauser's command to reverse its initial decision because Marines are already asked to "endure tremendous sacrifice and tremendous hardship."
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