- April 19, 2024
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By Brent Woronoff
It’s a girl.
Sue Baby was delivered to AdventHealth Palm Coast’s emergency department in January.
But “Sue Baby” is not actually a baby.
“It’s a nice, new infant warmer,” said Mary Radcliff, AdventHealth’s director of emergency services.
AdventHealth Palm Coast does not have a birthing unit, but the emergency room does deliver about five to seven babies a year, Radcliff said.
Thanks to a $22,000 donation from Palm Coast residents Peter and Sue Freytag, the ER now has an up-to-date baby warmer to use in those unforeseen situations.
“We had one, but it was a much older model,” Radcliff said. “It’s nice to know we have updated equipment just as good as they have in a birthing unit. It has all the monitors you need. We can provide oxygen if the babies need it. It’s very well equipped.”
It weighs the baby, has a heart monitor, monitors body temperature and has a heat lamp to warm the baby, she said.
Last spring and summer the ER delivered three babies during a four-month period. At that point it was evident the department needed a new baby warmer, Radcliff said.
“Delivering babies is never a fun thing to do in an ER, because it’s not something you do routinely,” she said.
The department reached out to John Subers, the director of AdventHealth Foundation of Palm Coast. Subers approached the Freytags, who are active with the foundation — Peter is on the foundation board — and have been helping to raise money for the new 100-bed AdventHealth facility to be built on Palm Coast Parkway.
“We were told about the new baby warmer the nurses wanted,” Sue Freytag said. “We decided we’d buy it for the hospital.”
After the baby warmer’s arrival, Subers told Peter the hospital wanted to name it “Sue” in honor of his wife. Peter had a slightly different idea.
“My high school nickname was ‘Sue Baby,’ ” Sue Freytag said. “In a weak moment I told my husband what my high school nickname was, and he’s used it ever since.”
So Peter Freytag suggested they name the baby warmer, “Sue Baby.”
Sue Freytag may not love the name, but she does love that she and her husband were able to help fill the need for the hospital.
“It’s a wonderful piece of equipment for the emergency room,” she said.
The Freytags moved to Palm Coast from Bloomington, Indiana, 18 years ago. Peter was a vice president of common stocks with State Farm. Sue was a public school teacher.
They have been very active with the hospital foundation as well as educational charities.
“Peter and I have lived here for 18 years. This is our home,” Sue said. “We feel like we should contribute locally. We feel that good medical facilities and good education are important.”
There hasn’t been a delivery in the ER since Sue Baby’s arrival, but the new baby warmer is ready for that eventuality.
“Mr. and Mrs. Freytag have been very generous in buying this equipment,” Radcliff said.
