A special visitor from Iraq
Local soldier able to see his newborn baby, wife at MGH
via long-distance video conferencing
Stephanie Craddock had two wishes come true in a matter
of 48 hours.
First, the Gwinn native gave birth to her first child: Ethan, an 8-pound,
19-inch boy in the Family
Birthing Center at Marquette General Hospital.
Then, her husband, Andrew, was able to visit with her and their new son.
Stephanie
Craddock and her newborn son, Ethan, enjoy the company of Andrew (on video
screen), stationed more than 6,000 miles away at an Air Force Base in
Iraq. Through telemedicine services available at Marquette General Hospital
and Freedom Calls Foundation, the lance corporal was afforded the unique
opportunity to visit with his wife and son. (MGH photo)
The unique twist on this story is that Andrew was more than 6,000 miles
away. A lance corporal in the U.S. Marines stationed at Al-Asad Air Force
Base in Al-Asad, Iraq, Andrew was afforded the opportunity to visit with
his new son and wife via a high-speed telehealth hookup provided through
a cooperative arrangement between the Upper
Peninsula Telehealth Network at Marquette General Hospital and Freedom
Calls Foundation. Freedom Calls Foundation, a proud supporter of U.S.
troops, helps make the videoconferencing hookups possible.
Remarkable? Yes.
Worth it? You bet.
“I think it’s pretty cool,” Stephanie said from her
bedside in mid-February, with a computer-type monitor positioned just
a few feet away to provide her a crystal-clear picture of her husband.
“I didn’t think I would be able to see him after I delivered.
I almost forgot what he looked like.”
Andrew, who hasn’t seen his wife since August, termed the opportunity
to visit with his newborn son “amazing.”
“It’s very nice,” he said. “I didn’t know
an opportunity like this existed. It makes it a lot easier living here.
I love him. I’m just overwhelmed.”
Andrew, a Marquette native who graduated from Gwinn High School in 2003,
married Stephanie last spring.
This is his second tour of duty in Iraq. He is scheduled to return home
shortly.
“We feel very fortunate to be able to play a role in this,”
said Susan Makela, Director of Telehealth at Marquette General Hospital.
“The opportunity to allow this young family to visit, face-to-face,
in real time … is quite special.We feel honored to do our part in
bridging the gap with technology to help our troops visit with their families.”
The Upper Peninsula Telehealth Network allows physicians to see patients
across great distances. Marquette General serves as the hub of the 38-site
network. The UPTN provides core services in professional education, clinical
consultations and administrative meetings, deployment of telehome care
systems, community education and video conferencing services for community
groups/businesses.
The sophisticated network provides more than 6,000 annual connections.
In addition to Marquette General, the Regional Medical Center, the 38
sites comprise nine Critical Access Hospitals, four community hospitals,
a tribal health center, the U.P. Healthcare Network, U.P. Health Plan,
Bay Cliff Health Camp for handicapped children, behavioral health clinics,
and several medical clinics.
In 2005, 687 patients used Marquette General’s telehealth technology
to communicate with their physicians, and more than 1,000 people used
the system for a wide variety of health reasons. A recent customer survey
performed by Michigan State University discovered that telehealth technology
not only provided patients with easily accessible health care, but it
also alleviated many burdens on loved ones and caregivers, freeing them
from travel and other time-consuming commitments.
For more information on Marquette General Hospital’s Telehealth
technology, call 1-800-562-9753, ext. 4766m or visit Marquette General’s
Telehealth website at www.mgh.org/telehealth/index.html.
