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Three-year-old Adriana Buccilli has a smile on her face as she participates in her first 5K road race.
On July 4, just one month shy of her fourth birthday, Adriana Buccilli completed a 5K road race in her hometown of Lynnfield, Mass. Despite the summer heat, she ran the entire way, winning first place in her age group. While it was a time for celebration for Adriana and her family, it was also a time of reflection.
Adriana was born at BWH Aug. 9, 2006. Within seconds after her birth, her father, Alfred Buccilli, recalled she was rushed to the NICU because her oxygen levels were low. She was quickly diagnosed with meconium aspiration syndrome, which occurs when a newborn breathes a mixture of meconium (stool) and amniotic fluid into the lungs at the time of delivery. The minutes and days that followed were terrifying for the Buccillis.
“Up until that point, everything was going just fine,” said Buccilli. “When I went down to the NICU and saw the doctors and nurses surrounding her, I knew something was wrong.”
Buccilli said that he and his wife are forever grateful to Adriana’s care team, taking extra care to mention that the doctors and nurses did not take their eyes off of his newborn daughter until she was fully recovered.
“Meconium aspiration is still a common newborn emergency,” said Robert M. Insoft, MD, FAAP, medical director of the NICU. “Although never routine to the baby and family involved, most patients do make a full recovery.”
Buccilli and his wife, Lena, feel fortunate that their daughter has no lasting effects following her hospitalization.
“We remember how scary it was when Adriana was in the NICU and how confident we felt with the care that the nurses, doctors and others provided for her,” Buccilli said. “To see her cross the finish line was a reminder of how grateful my wife and I are that we chose to deliver at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.”