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In the midst of joyful anticipation, the Pantanella family’s journey into parenthood took an unexpected turn when their 28-week checkup revealed a harrowing diagnosis, setting them on a path filled with uncertainty and resilience.
Tony and Amanda Pantanella were embracing their second year of marriage, eagerly awaiting the arrival of their first child. Despite thorough preparation and a solid birth plan, Amanda’s intuition hinted at trouble during her 28-week checkup. Concerns materialized when doctors diagnosed her with preeclampsia, resulting in her immediate admission to Erlanger Hospital, an hour away from home. The uncertainty of her condition led to daily monitoring, with doctors considering keeping her admitted until the baby’s arrival, ideally at 35 weeks. However, just three days later, Amanda experienced severe pain, leading to an emergency C-section, delivering their daughter, Melody, prematurely at one pound, 13 ounces.
The couple faced unexpected challenges as their initial birth plan was overturned. Tony recalls the emotional turmoil, seeking solace in prayer alongside their doula as he faced uncertainty not only in his baby’s arrival, but the health of his wife during delivery. However, Melody’s arrival marked the beginning of a new journey, with Amanda discharged, healthy and healing, on April 21st while Melody remained in the NICU. During this time, the doctors informed them that Melody would need to stay in the NICU indefinitely as she grew. Grateful for the guidance from Erlanger social workers, Tony and Amanda turned to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga, and found respite from commuting stress and a semblance of normalcy.
“It was relief,” said Amanda. “I walk into this house and it does feel like our temporary home. It’s amazing.”
“So many things are out of our control,” said Tony. “Having some stability of just being able to walk across the street, have a place to eat a meal, rest and lay our head down on a nice comfortable bed, do our laundry- it’s just all the things that we take for granted. It’s all so easily accessible here.”
Their stay at the Ronald McDonald House became a sanctuary, allowing them to focus on the only thing that mattered to them during those moments, Melody’s care. As Melody grew stronger over the six weeks they called RMHC home, the couple embraced their roles as parents.
“This has been an absolute game changer for us and really allowed us to be present with our daughter and be there for her,” said Tony. “We have felt extremely helpless in this situation, but being here at the House has helped us not feel hopeless.”
Thanks to the unwavering support from Ronald McDonald House Charities and the generous contributions of the community, Tony and Amanda found solace in knowing they didn’t have to endure exhausting daily drives to be with their baby girl. Embracing RMHC as their comforting sanctuary, the Pantanella family remained by their child’s side in the hospital, grateful for the closeness it afforded them during a challenging time.
