OhioHealth Doctor Reunites With 1-Year-Old After Life-Saving Care

OhioHealth Doctor Reunites With 1-Year-Old After Life-Saving Care

After spending the first weeks of her life fighting a life-threatening infection, thirteen-month-old Aurora Thomas reunited one year later with the doctors that helped save her life.

Aurora was diagnosed with meningitis after her spinal fluid tested positive for E. Coli. Doctors at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital and Nationwide Children's Hospital were concerned that the infection would spread to her brain and potentially become fatal. She needed treatment as quickly as possible.

"Menigitis for a newborn is very life-threatening when not treated quickly," Emily Thomas, Aurora's mom, told Spectrum News. "We were getting updates probably every 30 minutes after we found out she had a fever because a fever in a newborn is not normal. That was very concerning."

During Aurora's 23 days of treatment, she was cared for by a special team of physicians, including husband-and-wife doctors, Martin Hanawalt, MD, medical director of the pediatric hospitalist program at OhioHealth, and Jana Erner, MD, of Nationwide Children's Hospital. With care from both teams, Aurora stabilized quickly and made a full recovery.

One year after Aurora's recovery, her family reunited with the doctors that saved her life.

"It's been so cool because it's nice to see them outside of the environment that we saw them in for so long. Both Dr. Hanawalt and Dr. Erner. It's nice to connect with them on a personal level," Morgan Thomas, Aurora's dad, told Spectrum News.

Aurora's treatment not only affected her and her family,but also left a long-lasting impression on the doctors who cared for her. Even after more than 30 years of practicing medicine, Dr. Hanawalt shared that seeing Aurora happy and healthy is one of the most rewarding parts of his work.

"It's great seeing a child that's done very well and is thriving and doing fantastic; it just does my heart good," Dr. Hanawalt told Spectrum News.

The family still sends the doctors updates and photos to let them know how Aurora is doing. For her family, sharing those updates is important because it gives the physicians an opportunity to see the lasting impact their care has on patients and families.