Buffalo Grove Family Turns to NorthShore for Extraordinary Levels of Care
Yahna and Ron Martin joke that they are familiar with every NorthShore clinical department except geriatrics! Their shared sense of humor and belief in the power of laughter has been almost as important as the numerous physicians, nurses and caregivers who have been a part of their amazing journey.
Their odyssey started in December of 2010, as the couple was thrilled to learn that Yahna was pregnant. But almost immediately she developed severe complications. Yahna sought help from Robin Wind, MD, her trusted NorthShore-affiliated primary care physician, who admitted her to Evanston Hospital. It was quickly determined that Yahna was allergic to the progesterone shots necessary to maintain the pregnancy.
Around the same time, husband Ron discovered a lump on his throat. His physician prescribed a round of antibiotics, which initially seemed to help, but then the lump grew bigger.
A Primary Care "Quarterback"
Considering the pregnancy “high-risk,” Dr. Wind referred Yahna to NorthShore Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) specialists. “Dr. Wind is amazing and one of the most resourceful doctors we’ve ever met. She connected us to everyone we needed,” Yahna said.
The MFM team included Richard Silver, MD, and Scott MacGregor, DO—both of whom hold academic appointments at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. The two experts developed a new treatment plan with smaller doses of progesterone and alternating shots and topical treatments. “The whole team was great!” Yahna added.
Meantime, husband Ron went to see Dr. Wind after a biopsy on the lump on his throat revealed a far more serious problem. “Within 10 minutes, she was convinced it was throat cancer and arranged a consult at NorthShore Kellogg Cancer Center the very same day,” Yahna recalled. “Dr. Wind moved mountains for us. She knew the best experts and made the calls to get us in.”
By February, the Martins learned they were having triplets, and a month later Ron had cancer surgery followed by a grueling eight weeks of chemotherapy and radiation. “It was comforting to me that NorthShore had a team of experts discussing the best options for my treatment,” Ron said. “They have a history with this kind of cancer and know what works.”
Complicated Pregnancy
With Ron’s cancer treatment under way, the couple received more devastating news. They were told one of the triplets might not survive when Yahna began bleeding at 14 weeks, a problem that would persist throughout the entire pregnancy.
Hospitalized and on bed rest, Yahna experienced a roller coaster of emotions, while supporting Ron through his difficult cancer treatments. “There were times I thought I couldn’t handle it anymore,” Ron recalled. “I love food but couldn’t stand even the sight of it!”
“As I was gaining weight, he was losing it. Our bed started to tilt!” Yahna laughed. While supporting each other as best they could, both Ron and Yahna found great comfort from growing numbers of NorthShore nurses and physicians invested in their care. At one point Yahna had the MFM phone numbers memorized and Ron could recite the Kellogg Cancer Center numbers.
On July 5, 2011—just as Ron was beginning to get a little of his energy back—the triplets named Spring, Summer and Autumn were born two months premature. While Summer and Autumn were hearty, Spring faced a host of serious health challenges, from underdeveloped lungs and Retinopathy of Prematurity eye disease to club foot. Four days after she was born—as doctors prepared the Martins for the worst—the baby took a miraculous turn for the better and has been getting stronger every day. The Infant Special Care Unit (ISCU) physicians and “wonderfully supportive nurses” joined the growing Martin family support team.
Spring and her parents rose to each challenge. “This girl brought us to the brink on so many things. She’s an amazing child,” said Ron, whose throat cancer is now in remission.
“We’re success oriented,” said Yahna. “We might have a bumpy road at times, but we cross one bump at a time and celebrate each successful accomplishment along with our incredible NorthShore care team!”