When a newborn baby is in distress, minutes can mean the difference between life and death. In March 2020, pediatrician Mike Seaton, MD, was seeing patients in the Porter Pediatrics office on Exchange Street when an urgent call came that a newborn was in cardiopulmonary arrest at Porter's Birthing Center, 3.5 miles away. A pediatrician was needed on site, as soon as possible. Dr. Seaton had to rush to his car and navigate downtown traffic to reach his patient at Porter Medical Center.

“There were two traffic delays that stopped me on the way to the hospital."

When Dr. Seaton arrived at Porter Birthing Center, baby Nash’s heart had stopped beating. Nurses were doing chest compressions and providing artificial ventilation. “The team of clinicians was doing an excellent job,” remembers Dr. Seaton. "They were focused and calm and doing everything they should.” But certain procedures must be done by a pediatrician, and Nash needed a central IV, which Dr. Seaton inserted through his umbilical cord. The baby was also intubated. After the second dose of epinephrine was administered, there was a heart beat and Nash’s color started to come back.

“It was a huge team effort. You can't overstate that the baby's survival depended on what the team did before I got there and what we did together after I arrived.”

A Special Bond

Nash was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit at University of Vermont Medical Center, and was discharged within a couple days. Five months later, he has had no adverse effects. Nash’s mother, Melissa, chose Porter Pediatrics for Nash’s check-ups and always requests to see Dr. Seaton at his appointments. The reunions often involve tears for both doctor and mother. “It’s still quite emotional to see that baby,” Dr. Seaton admits, “It was just the closest call. I feel extremely grateful.” 

Once Porter Pediatrics moves into a newly renovated space inside the hospital, Dr. Seaton and his fellow pediatricians can walk down the hall and arrive at a newborn baby’s bedside in under a minute.