Aura Weltman, a senior clinical specialist in the Department of Rehabilitation and Human Performance at The Mount Sinai Hospital
On Thursday, December 28, shortly before 8:30 am, Aura Weltman, OTR/L, SCLV, was walking on Fifth Avenue toward The Mount Sinai Hospital and heard a woman scream. Aura, a senior clinical specialist in the Department of Rehabilitation and Human Performance at the hospital, looked around and noticed that the street seemed unusually deserted. The only people she could see were a couple walking about half a block ahead of her.
She was unsure who was in distress, but a second scream was clearly coming from the woman, who seemed to be losing her balance as she walked up the ramp to the hospital. Aura ran to her as she started to fall, caught her, and helped her to the ground.
The woman said “baby,” and Aura instinctively dropped to the ground to assist.
“I noticed someone standing close to the hospital entrance, and I called for him get help. I could tell that there was no time to wait,” she says, adding that the delivery took only a few minutes. “It was miraculous to have a perfect, beautiful baby boy crying in my arms. The mom was so brave and strong—her only concern was that the baby be wrapped and warm.”
Although Aura had never delivered a baby before, she had trained as an emergency medical technician through a summer program at UCLA after graduating from high school. She explains, “When I was 16, I was a passenger in a near-death car accident. As a result of this, I wanted to know what to do to help others in case of an emergency.”
Aura remained with the baby and his mom, reassuring her and caring for the baby until a team from the hospital arrived. “One of the security guards came out and took off his coat to wrap the baby. He also removed and unlocked my phone so I could advise my manager that I had a ‘minor emergency’ and would be a little late!”
She continues: “Once the teams arrived, they cut the umbilical cord. One team took the baby, and I began to help the mom to a stretcher. After entering the hospital and checking that both were okay (and checking on dad, who clearly did not expect this), I wished them well. By the time I turned around, the baby and mother were being wheeled away, and the team of medical professionals dissipated.”
Debra Zeitlin, who is Aura’s manager in the Department of Rehabilitation and Human Performance, was not surprised to learn about her efforts to help someone in need. “Aura’s actions and calm demeanor are no surprise to me or her colleagues,” she says. “Aura is an excellent, dedicated clinician who goes above and beyond for her patients on a daily basis.”
Aura was also recognized for her courage and compassion in the Mount Sinai Health System’s daily leadership huddle.
When asked about her courageous actions, Aura speaks about the influence of others. “I am so grateful to my parents and my community—they have always placed an emphasis on seeking knowledge and helping others. I am grateful for learning so much about compassionate care and excellence from many of my Mount Sinai colleagues,” she says. “The members of the Department of Rehabilitation and Human Performance, including doctors, nurses, therapists, and staff are hard-working, devoted, and creative; they honestly would have done the same. Our department is constantly involved in rebirth—working to aid those recovering from brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and a host of other challenges—it may be a bit less dramatic but it is every bit as miraculous.”
Aura believes she was not alone during this experience. “I genuinely felt that I was being guided from above—all the training that I had received years ago flooded back. I feel lucky to have been placed there at the right time and fortunate to have been a part of such a miracle.”