ALLENTOWN, Pa. — When Tina Montone was late in her pregnancy with her second child, she knew something was wrong — the baby had stopped kicking.
Doctors discovered the cause was a knot in the umbilical cord wrapped around the baby’s neck, cutting off vital nutrients, Montone, of Orefield, said.
Luckily, her medical team was able to successfully perform an emergency cesarean section, and delivered Montone’s daughter Dana at St. Luke’s University Health Network.
Dana then spent three days in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit being monitored before she could go home with her family.
Today, Dana Montone is a healthy, 19-year-old radiology student, and her family is sharing their story in support of the Lehigh Valley Commercial & Industrial Real Estate Foundation, a nonprofit organization that raises funds for babies and families with medical challenges.
On Monday, Lehigh Valley Commercial & Industrial Real Estate Foundation presented representatives from St. Luke’s and Lehigh Valley Health Network, part of Jefferson Health, each with a check for $55,000 at the Westside Grill in Allentown.
“This goes such a long way for our littlest patients,” Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital President Anne Baum said. “This means so much to us.”
'Our most fragile babies'
Monotone said she most remembers the work of her nurses who suctioned fluid from Dana’s lungs until she let out her first cry.
"My biggest impression was their care, and their position on the team was just incredible."Tina Montone, mission family member
“My biggest impression was their care," she said. “We have the talent here in the Valley to see these little babies through."
Baum said LVHN will spend its funds on equipment for its NICU and to support families who need local accommodations or supplies while their child is receiving medical care.
Dr. Fadel Balawi, NICU division chief at St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital, said his department will use funds to buy a new transporter to replace a 30-year-old device that can no longer meet the needs of patients.
The new transporter will help move critically ill infants across the hospital’s multiple campuses.
“This is especially crucial as we are increasingly required to transport infants requiring high-frequency ventilation and nitric oxide therapy," he said.
"Treatments vital to the safety and well-being of our most fragile babies."
5 years raising more than $150,000
The funds for the donations come from the more than $160,000 that Lehigh Valley CIRE raised at its annual breakfast fundraising event, which took place in October.
That event brought together Lehigh Valley real estate professionals, along with engineers, architects and others to contribute to the cause.
At the event, Lehigh Valley CIRE named Dick Bus, Montone’s father, as its individual of the year for his donation.
Bus is president of ATAS International, a manufacturer of metal panels and accessories for building envelopes and interiors.
Allentown's Da Vinci Science Center was named the project of the year.
This is the fifth consecutive year Lehigh Valley CIRE has raised more than $150,000. Over the past 31 years, the organization has raised more than $2 million.
