Allyson Bragg with her daughter, Aayla, who was in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Mount Sinai West for more than two months.
Allyson Bragg lives in Edison, New Jersey, a 45-minute drive from Mount Sinai West under the best of conditions. But after meeting Robin Brown, MD, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Mount Sinai West, she had no hesitation in driving to New York City so that Dr. Brown could oversee her pregnancy.
Allyson needed someone special. She had suffered numerous miscarriages, and was referred to Dr. Brown by Martin Keltz, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist, who said Dr. Brown was an expert in high-risk pregnancies. “He was so right. She is incredible; I love her.”
Although Allyson’s pregnancy was uneventful, her daughter Aayla was born prematurely at 28 weeks. Weighing 1 pound and 4 ounces, Aayla was in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Mount Sinai West for more than two months.
Allyson was determined to be with her daughter every day, but she found the commute and expenses of gas and tolls challenging. That all changed when Allie Rubin, LCSW, secured a room for Allyson at the Ronald Mc Donald House located in Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Allyson stayed there for 55 days, allowing her to have unlimited time with Aayla, worry free. “I am so grateful to Allie. Despite the circumstances, it was a wonderful experience,” she says.
Allyson is also appreciative of the entire nursing staff for their care. She has special praise for Glen Marie Bona Greszta, RN. “Glenn was amazing.” She was the first one on Aayla’s care in the NICU after she was born. Glen shared knowledge about premature babies and, by going above and beyond, assured Allyson that Aayla was in good hands.
“I was thrilled that Glen was the nurse who put Aayla in her car seat when she was able to leave the NICU, so she was the first and last person to care for my rainbow baby,” she says. “Nurse Glen sets the standard for nursing care! I’m also grateful for nurses Rose Husbands, RN, and Yolanda Dela Cruz, RN; they treated my daughter like she was their own.”