Defying the Odds: How Woman Became a First-Time Mom, Thanks to Help from Maternity and NICU Teams at Jackson North

By: Krysten Brenlla

Originally from Argentina, Anabella Pasqualino, 40, moved to South Florida 11 years ago, where she met her partner, Sam Beane.

For two years, Anabella and Sam tried to have a baby. However, after a stillborn and a miscarriage, they thought they’d never get the opportunity to be parents.

Until one day, her pregnancy test read “positive” for a third time.

“I’ve always been very healthy – losing my two babies came at such a surprise, and it was very hard on me,” Anabella said. “A lot of times, as women, we’re not aware of how many times this happens to us. We may feel ashamed because we think losing our babies is our fault. But I think it’s important for women to know that it’s not our fault – making a baby is a miracle.”

Because of her history, Anabella was considered a high-risk patient. She was referred to Jackson North Medical Center by her OB-GYN, where she met a new team ready to take care of her and her baby.

Throughout her pregnancy, she had no complications and was hopeful for a smooth birth.

Despite following every appointment, at 31 weeks, Anabella started feeling painful contractions. At that moment, she knew her baby was ready to be born.

“I was in so much fear. I kept thinking to myself, ‘this cannot happen for a third time. This has to be my rainbow that will bring me some light,’” Anabella said.

“When you give birth, there is so much pain, you don’t think of anything other than pushing. But once you get that physical relief, the emotional pain begins because now, it’s out of your hands.”

On July 11, 2024, her baby boy, Alexander Ethan Beane, was born. Immediately after, Alex was taken to Jackson North’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

“To ensure a smooth transition into the NICU, the nurses had to consider several factors,” said Sherry Dyer, a NICU nurse at Jackson North. “We followed the doctor’s orders to monitor his respiratory effort and ensure he was stable, managed his nutrition through IV fluids, and worked to incorporate breastfeeding, which was a challenge at first because he didn’t tolerate it well.”

Born prematurely, Alex faced several challenges. Along with respiratory and nutritional treatments, the team closely monitored his temperature, while guiding Anabella through bonding exercises.

“We worked with mom on skin-to-skin contact and kangaroo care, which is when the baby is in the mom’s clothing listening to her heartbeat and feeling the warmth of her skin,” Dyer said.

“Feeling that human touch from mom and dad is essential to help babies grow.

After spending eight weeks in Jackson North’s NICU, Alex was ready to go home.

“He still looked very fragile and tiny, and we knew he needed a lot of care,” Anabella said. “It was a great feeling to know he was finally ready to come home, and that our journey as a family was about to begin.”

Today, Anabella and Sam are raising a healthy and happy baby boy. Anabella has returned to work, and after several doctor’s appointments, physical therapy sessions, and at-home brain stimulation, Alex has made significant progress – he’s smiling, making noises, and continuing to grow.

“Alex came a long way, and as mom started to feel comfortable touching and talking with him, he responded to her,” Dyer said. “Our NICU team not only worked to give Alex what he needed, but we also worked with Ana by guiding her and teaching her how to take care of her baby once he was ready to go home.”

“The key to having a baby in the NICU is trust – I knew that Alex was in the best hands,” Anabella said. “Every single person listened, supported, and made a difference in Alex’s care.

The impact they have had in our lives is forever in our hearts – it’s clear that this is not just a job for them, but a passion.”