NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AT WILLIAMSON MEDICAL CENTER

Neonatal care offers hope, healing to newborns and their families.

Paul Jacob Edwards recently celebrated his fourth birthday, and he is energetic and active like others his age. Gone is any indication he suffered from a rare, life-threatening condition in utero or that he was born six weeks early. Julie Edwards went into premature labor at 30 weeks and was admitted to Williamson Medical Center. Diagnostic tests helped detect that Paul Jacob suffered from vasa previa, a rare condition in which fetal blood vessels in the placenta or umbilical cord are unsupported and trapped between the baby and the opening of the birth canal.

If undetected, vasa previa brings an extremely high mortality rate because traditional labor and delivery either tears or pinches the blood vessels, creating catastrophic blood loss for the baby.

Because WMC’s neonatal intensive care unit was awaiting completion, Julie stayed several weeks at a Nashville hospital, where Paul Jacob was delivered via C-section six weeks early.

“Because vasa previa was detected at WMC, the delivery was controlled and Paul Jacob was born safely,” Julie says. In the meantime, WMC’s level IIB NICU opened, and Paul Jacob was transferred there to be closer to family. He needed help regulating his body temperature and learning how to eat and breathe at the same time, Julie says.

The NICU unit is staffed with neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners and nurses trained in respiratory support, neonatal resuscitation and low- and high-risk neonatal nursing. Respiratory therapists also assist in specialized needs of infants. Typically, 5 to 10 percent of all newborns require specialized care, says Janet Meadows, R.N., nursing director of Obstetrics/NICU.

“The NICU staff was wonderful and everyone did an awesome job,” Julie says. “With Paul Jacob being close to home, it was much more convenient, especially for a breast-feeding mom.”

Today, Paul Jacob loves to play soccer and can’t wait to follow in the footsteps of his older brother by playing football. WMC’s NICU and other technological and medical advancements mean a bright future for many of the tiniest patients like Paul Jacob.

MERCY CHILDREN’S CLINIC

Incorporated as a Tennessee not-for-profit in April of 1999, Mercy Children’s Clinic (MCC) began seeing patients on November 1, 1999 in a small house on Ninth Avenue in the heart of downtown Franklin. The following May they moved into their current facility next door and have steadily grown ever since. With the vision of providing quality pediatric care to any child who needs it, MCC has impacted the lives of thousands of children and their families and continues to do so today. After nearly 10 years of caring for children from 30 counties in Tennessee and beyond, Mercy has seen more than 9500 children. Their Board Certified staff of MD’s provides the best of care whether you have insurance, TennCare, or no insurance at all. Mercy’s mission is to reflect the love and compassion of Jesus Christ by providing quality healthcare to ALL children and support to their families.

MY FRIEND’S HOUSE

My Friend’s House Family and Children Services, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation chartered in 1982. My Friend’s House began its operation in 1988 and is a group home for boys operated by Williamson County Youth, Inc.
My Friend’s House believes in the worth and value of children and their families. Our primary focus is the safety and the emotional and physical stability of children. We are committed to the concept that a comprehensive home-like setting is beneficial and necessary to children who have been removed from their home due to abuse or neglect.

WILLIAMSON COUNTY LIBRARY FOUNDATION

The Williamson County Library Foundation provides private funding for program and collection enhancements of the Williamson County Library system.  The unique partnership between governmental support and private philanthropy is important to the success of public libraries.  Library patrons have come to expect a more expanded library that will meet and enhance the lives of citizens of different backgrounds.  While the daily operations and maintenance of the libraries are funded by local government, the Williamson County Library Foundations helps augment many creative endeavors that are essential to the greatness of the library.  With the help of many generous people, the Foundation provides free educational programs as well as collection enhancements for the children and adults who visit Williamson County libraries thousands of times a year.  A Vintage Affair is teaming with the Williamson County Library Foundation to expand the resources of the Children’s Library, as well as creating other children’s programs throughout the year, in keeping with A Vintage Affair’s commitment to serving women and children of need in Williamson County.

A VINTAGE AFFAIR FELLOWSHIP AT O’MORE COLLEGE OF DESIGN

In 2009, A Vintage Affair teamed with O’More College of Design to create the A Vintage Affair Fellowship.  The fellowship is a one-semester scholarship to an O’More Fashion Student, who must meet certain criteria and is required to complete a designated amount of volunteer hours with AVA.  As recipient of the A Vintage Affair Fellowship, the student’s main objective will be to work with the A Fashion Affair Chairperson and her committee by helping to plan and subsequently work at the fashion show.  The student will also assist the Board with the Spring AVA line up of events in April.

PAST BENEFICIARIES

BRIDGES of Williamson County
The Hundred Club of Franklin
High Hopes Inclusive Preschool & Pediatric Therapy Clinic
Williamson County Child Advocacy Center