BLANCHARD, Idaho. – Amber Nash was under the impression she would never be able to have children, having been diagnosed with ovarian cancer at a young age. But by some miracle, she and her husband became pregnant last year, except their baby boy was born over four months early.
Kane Nash entered the world on July 9, 2023, after only being inside his mom for 23 weeks. His chances of survival were low, but because of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Providence Sacred Heart in Spokane, Kane will happily celebrate his first birthday in two weeks.
“They gave me a gift I never thought I’d have,” Amber Nash said. “They were able to keep me hopeful, to keep me positive, to keep me with realistic expectations and I owe them so much.”
During her unexpected, yet blessed, first-time pregnancy, Nash thought a few painful symptoms were normal. Yet, because she works in healthcare, one of her coworkers had her pee in a cup to check for any bad signs.
When the results came back, it was only good news; somehow, despite having ovarian cancer, Nash was pregnant.
“I think I told him to shut up,” she said jokingly.
But over time, concerning symptoms arose. Nash had developed a severe case of preeclampsia, a serious pregnancy-specific disorder that causes high blood pressure and protein in the urine. And at 23 weeks, her baby, Kane, was ready to come out. Yet, the hospital close to home in North Idaho didn’t have the NICU resources to support Kane at such an early stage.
Nash was transferred to Providence Sacred Heart, and a couple days later, Kane was born. He was taken to Sacred Heart’s NICU, the only level 4 NICU in the region. This means the nurses and doctors there can care for babies born as early as Kane was.
“He was in the best place he could be for the best chance of survival,” Nash said.
It’s hard to put into words what NICU families go through, but when the outcome is as sweet as baby Kane, it’s easy to understand the need for a service like this.
For six months, Kane stayed at the NICU and Nash stayed at the Ronald McDonald House. Kane battled multiple complications after birth, including Pneumonia, an intestinal disease, and a brain bleed. But today, besides having a feeding tube, he’s got a clean bill of health.
Nash and her husband, Chris, couldn’t be more grateful for the team who saved their baby. That especially includes Dr. Lisa McGill-Vargas, the NICU medical director at Sacred Heart. She is also a neonatologist at Pediatrix Neonatology of Eastern Washington.
“It’s really hard to leave a piece of your heart at the NICU every single night, so to have an opportunity for our team to see this kind of amazing outcome is something to really celebrate,” Dr. McGill-Vargas said.
Celebrating one year of Kane, a boy who was born at 23 weeks, his feet so small they could fit between the bond of his parents’ marriage. Now bouncing with joy with a full life ahead of him, all because Sacred Heart was there.
“To see him smiling and giggling and interacting, because it’s not just about survival, it’s about thriving,” Dr. McGill-Vargas said. “And to see a little boy like Kane, after all he’s been through, after all his family has been through, doing so well, it makes it all worth it.”
And for a mother who never thought she could get pregnant, Nash’s baby Kane, is a miracle in true form.
“I’m a true believer that he is here to say something, because to get through all that, there’s a reason,” Nash said.
On July 9, Kane and his parents will celebrate his first birthday; the party will be big, full of family and friends, for one very special milestone.
