Nothing can prepare anyone from losing their family.
But what if you lost your family on the eve of the most wonderful day of the year? A day we all thought was filled with joy and giving?
An expectant husband suddenly found himself reeling from this tragedy when on the eve of Christmas her wife in labor went into cardiac arrest. Will he lose his family that day, when they’re about to celebrate their first Christmas together?
Mike Hermanstorfer’s Christmas went from joyful to tragic.
At 12:30 PM, his wife’s hand fell out from Hermanstofer’s hand. Her skin was cold and ashen. The machines were indicating that her heart has stopped.
The staff at Memorial Health System in Colorado Springs sounded Code Blue. It meant that a patient needs resuscitation after a cardiac arrest. They needed to act fast, not only for Tracy Hermanstorfer but for the baby in her womb as well.
Staff rushed to save mother and child.
Dr. Stephanie Martin was nearby when they called for a Code Blue. She ran to the delivery room and quickly attended to Tracy.
“My first thought was that I can’t allow this father to lose both his wife and his child, especially on Christmas Eve,” Martin told CNN.
While a lot of risks are involved in childbirth, Tracy’s case was unexpected. Tracy was healthy at the time of her labor so they managed to rule out pre-existing heart problems. She also didn’t experience major blood loss that could affect her blood pressure. There was also no major trauma that could lead to her death.
Every second was of the essence.
At around 12:40 PM, Tracy’s attending staff attempted to resuscitate her. They kept on trying for four minutes but Tracy was still unresponsive. The doctors now faced a new emergency.
They performed an emergency Caesarean section. Martin said that if Tracy was not resuscitated in four to five minutes after her heart stopped, the baby’s chances for brain injury increases dramatically. If the baby is removed from their mother within that time frame, the chances of survival are at 95%.
Baby boy Coltyn was born at 12:46 PM
He was limp and had a faint pulse. He was born out of dire circumstances but he was alive. It was Tracy’s last gift to Mike, even if it meant that she’s not going to see baby Coltyn.
But moments after Coltyn was born, a miracle happened. A grieving father’s prayer was heard when he was about to lose all hope.
Tracy took a shallow sip of breath.
Her pulse was weak, almost indiscernible, but it was a sign that she’s holding on. All of them couldn’t believe what was happening and everyone was on their toes.
“We all stopped and took a breath,” said Martin to the news outlet. “We had to make sure she wasn’t going to re-arrest.”
Soon enough, Tracy’s condition stabilized.
It gave them the chance to finish their operation on Coltyn who was also so close to death. Slowly, he regained his color. Then, Martin heard the most beautiful cry he’s ever heard in his life.
“I thought he was dead until he gasped for air,” said Mike Hermanstorfer to CNN. “When he let that cry out, that’s when the whole world stops. Most parents can’t stand the sound of a crying baby, but I’ll tell you from experience that’s one of the best sounds you could ever hear.”
After receiving news that his son was breathing, doctors told him that Tracy was now recovering.
He came to the hospital on the brink of losing the most important people in his life. It started with a tragedy but ended in a Christmas Miracle.
Watch how this mother came back to life when her baby was born.
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