Page 9 - CJA_Spirit_Feb2020

Susan said. “So this was devastating for their friend. She had an infection
because we knew that even if our and her baby needed to come out as
baby survived, it would be a very quickly as possible.
difficult road.” On October 21, 2018, Anna Mary
Susan arrived at Barnes Jewish to Zeid was born at 28-weeks. A team
a hospital room equipped for her to of doctors from St. Louis Children’s
give birth. She received magnesium Hospital cared for Anna, while a
and steroid shots to stop her labor team of doctors from Barnes Jewish
and promote the baby’s development. focused on her mom. These were
The doctors told her it was crucial scary moments for Nick; he wasn’t
for her to make it through the first sure if either would make it. Doctors
24-hours – and she did. Twenty-four directed Nick to go to the Newborn
hours turned into 48 hours, 48 hours Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with Anna
turned into 72 hours, and assured him Susan would be fine
– and they were right. Nick was able
and 72 hours turned
Searching for a Sign into 4 full weeks. to take Susan to see Anna for the first
time the next day.
Susan lived in her
hospital room for a
“I thought I had prepared myself,”
month, giving her
baby time to grow. Susan said. “I knew she would be really
small and hooked up to a lot of things.
“There was nothing You want a feeling of excitement
hen she was I could do for myself and my baby when you see your baby for the first CJA CONNECTIONS
24-weeks pregnant besides pray,” Susan said. “I prayed the time, but this time, I was terrified.”
with her second rosary every single day I was there.” Anna weighed only 2lbs, 5oz. Susan
W child, Susan Vieth When she wasn’t praying, Susan was distraught by how vulnerable and
Zeid ’04 started experiencing unusual was blessed with lots of visitors, fragile her daughter looked. The nurse
symptoms. She called her doctor and including many Cor Jesu friends. In at Children’s talked Susan through
went in for a check-up at Missouri true CJ fashion, the Chargers created her daughter’s condition and care
Baptist Hospital in St. Louis. She left a schedule so that Susan consistently plan, and made her feel comfortable
in an ambulance bound for Barnes had a visitor to distract her. And when enough to go back to her room and
Jewish Hospital, and a longer journey Susan had to cancel on a girls’ trip to focus on her own recovery. While she
than Susan or her husband, Nick, Arizona, some of the other girls that felt some comfort, Susan was still
could have imagined. The minute that couldn’t attend brought Arizona to looking for her sign that everything
ambulance door closed, she began her hospital room. would be okay.
searching for a sign that everything “They showed up with blow up Enter Dr. Pazandak.
would be okay. cacti, balloons and other decorations!” The next day, Dr. Christine Cortelyou
Susan was in labor that day, and her Susan said. “We had our own girls’ Pazandak walked into Susan’s hospital
doctors said that she would not be trip right in my hospital room and room to meet the mom of her newest
leaving the hospital until she had the even face-timed the girls actually in patient at Children’s. Because Susan’s
baby. At only 24 weeks, Susan and Nick Arizona. It was special.” married name was on the charts,
were scared; they knew their baby Not too long after the Arizona party Dr. Pazandak was unaware that she
wasn’t ready for the outside world. began, Susan spiked a 103-degree was walking into the room of a former
“It was very difficult for us to get fever. The CJ girls quickly left Susan’s Cor Jesu classmate.
pregnant with our second child,” care to the doctors and went to pray Sign received.

Susan and Nick Zeid with daughters
Caroline (left) and Anna.

SPRING 2020 SPIRIT MAGAZINE 7