Media Contact: Jim Banahan, phone (323) 913-4570
e-mail: Jim.Banahan@Hpmedcenter.com

Highly Specialized Physicians Featured on Discovery Health

Los Angeles (December 9, 2008) - Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center and the Institute for Maternal Fetal Health were featured in a 1-hour segment of Babies 911 on Discovery Health today. The crew from Discovery Health followed three in-utero babies: Nathan Teddy, Andrew Morse and Marcus Lehr - each suffering a defect. The babies and their families were profiled during their journeys from diagnosis at the Institute for Maternal Fetal Health to delivery at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center and finally specialized surgery when needed at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

Andrew Morse had a piece of tissue obstructing his bladder. After learning of Andrew's condition from a OBGYN, Andrew's parents, Hannah and Josh Morse, consulted with Ramen Chmait, MD, a renowned specialist in fetal surgery. Dr. Chmait inserted a shunt to remove the lower urinary tract obstruction while Andrew remained in Hannah's uterus to prevent a very early delivery. The shunt helped prolong Hannah's pregnancy however she still delivered early but not as early as she would have without the intervention. Two weeks after birth, pediatric urologist, Roger De Filippo, MD, performed surgery to remove the blockage. Andrew came through the surgery and is expected to live a healthy, normal life.

Marcus Lehr's intestines formed outside of his body when he was developing. He suffered from a condition called gastroschisis. OBGYN David Miller, MD, closely monitored Marcus during the pregnancy. He was delivered by Joslyn Gumbs, MD, via Cesarean section and taken to Children's Hospital Los Angeles for immediate surgery to put his intestines into his body. Pediatric surgeon Cathy E. Shin, MD, performed the surgery. Marcus did well and is expected to live a healthy, normal life.

Nathan Teddy suffered from a diaphragmatic hernia, a missing kidney and a spinal abnormality. Babies 911 shows the difficulties faced by his parents Kelsie and Mike Teddy during this unusual pregnancy. They met with geneticist Linda Randolph, MD, and neonatal-perinatal pediatrician Victoria N. Camerini, MD, to determine the extent of Nathan's deformities. Despite the additional counseling, Nathan died before he was even born.

Several doctors and nurses were featured in the program including Dr. Victoria N. Camerini, Dr. Ramen Chmait, Dr. Roger De Filippo, Dr. Joslyn Gumbs, Dr. David A. Miller, Dr. Linda Randolph, Dr. Cathy E. Shin, Dr. Arus Zograbyan, and nurse Shelia Perez. Together they showed that teamwork and cooperation combined with exceptional skills and resources can save babies lives even before they are born.