Katy and Tim Landuyt stopped by the Silver Cross Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in New Lenox the other day to drop off small, fleece blankets they’ve been collecting
Besides keeping the hospital’s tiniest patients warm, the effort helps the Landuyts keep alive their love and memories of their daughter.
The Oak Forest couple started a donation drive for the cuddly blankets after Sophie died Oct. 16, a month after she was born at Silver Cross. They praised the staff for their quality care and compassion, but noted the unit opened last summer so doesn’t yet have a stockpile of “fun” supplies, such as colorful blankets.
“When you have a baby girl, you want to dress her up, have outfits picked out, so I think the blankets and having a fun baby pattern makes it a little easier,” Katy Landuyt said.
Because she had trouble conceiving, the couple turned to in vitro fertilization, which helped give birth to their son, Ryne, now 3. Katy developed high blood pressure during recent pregnancy, and Sophie had to be delivered by cesarean section at 24 weeks and would spend most of her life at Silver Cross.
At one point Sophie was transferred to Ann Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago for insertion of a vein catheter, returning to Silver Cross after a week.
The couple spent every day with her, placing their hands on her tiny body in her Isolette with staff permission.
“That was to provide her some comfort we were there,” Katy said.
They also placed a small piece of flannel fabric in the shape of a heart on Sophie that Katy would bring back and forth for her daughter.
“It was a way for my scent to be with Sophie and to let her know I was there and a way for her scent to be comforting to me,” said Katy Landuyt. “The scent of the baby helps hormone-wise with it being next to me and helps with milk production.”
The couple collected dozens of fleece blankets from donation bins at Oak Forest City Hall, the Oak Forest Park District and St. Damian Church, where they are members. The bins will be left for future donations. Blankets should be 34 inches by 28 inches. Information is at [email protected].
Tim Landuyt said the couple had pulled through by supporting each other.
“I think what’s helped us the most is from the start we both knew this was going to be a difficult journey,” Tim said. “We did everything together and with Sophie, as well.”
That journey continues to be difficult, but there are elements of the experience he is holding onto for strength.
“I think just instead of regretting and complaining about all the bad things that happened, I’m going to cherish that month I did spend with her,” he said. “I was lucky to be able to be there for the most part every day with Katy, and even had the opportunity to hold her a little bit before she passed.”
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Staff in the NICU quickly became part of a supportive family, allowing the parents to change diapers, give baths and touch and hold their daughter.
“Those things are important not only for bonding but physiologically they can make a baby do better,” said Dr. Brett Galley a neonatologist at Silver Cross and medical director for Outreach Neonatology at Lurie Children’s Hospital, explaining Sophie’s case was difficult because of her tiny size, premature lungs and intestines and risk for bleeding in her brain.
“The other thing is that survival for these babies is unfortunately not guaranteed … but there is a real chance of survival,” he said. “Knowing that some babies can survive and wanting to give them that shot is difficult not knowing what the end result is going to be.”
Given the stress of watching their baby struggle and then die, Galley said the couple showed remarkable spirit.
“A lot of parents really sort of shut down to deal with it internally,” said Galley. “Tim and Katy have sort of taken the opposite approach. They remained intricately involved with our NICU in a way to honor Sophie’s life and to keep her memory alive.
“Having Katy and Tim be so supportive is also helpful for the team.”
Katy Landuyt said she was equally touched by the staff.
“When Sophie did pass away, I had come out of her room and the doctors and nurses were all in the hallway crying and that just showed me how much they loved her — as much as we loved her,” she said.
Janice Neumann is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.