How a Family Took Control After Losing Their First Child

Jenna and Scott Rogers have survived unimaginable heartbreak: Their first child, Noah, died of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) during a nap at daycare on Oct. 7, 2010. Born November 4, 2009, he was not yet a year old.

“The day Noah died is a blur,” Jenna said. “But the staff, the nurses and doctors at Maple Grove Hospital were so incredible.”

 

Anticipating Oliver

The Rogers’ second son, Oliver, was born at Maple Grove Hospital 11 months after Noah’s death. Not surprisingly, planning to welcome a second child brought mixed feelings.

“We were very nervous and scared,” Jenna said. “We wanted it be as positive as it could be.” The Maple Grove Hospital team jumped into action: Jenna and Scott worked with the labor and delivery nurse ahead of time, and a care team was handpicked to be at Jenna’s side during the planned C-section.

“People went out of their way to make sure I was comfortable, including a nurse who held my hand throughout the delivery,” Jenna said. “No matter what questions or concerns I had, they never made me feel overly paranoid. We felt that the nurses really, actually cared about us. They treated us like family from delivery through discharge from the hospital.”

The care team also made sure that everyone knew about Noah’s death, so no one asked Jenna and Scott difficult questions.

“That was very meaningful to us,” Jenna said. “It was really, really amazing. The care team was so patient, sensitive and nurturing during my entire stay. We had such a positive experience.”

 

Welcoming Maven

The couple’s third son, Maven, was born in 2015, also at Maple Grove Hospital. Jenna was able to have the same team of nurses that she had with Oliver, and put together a plan with OB doctors and anesthesiologists for her planned C-section.

“I felt able to voice any concerns I had,” Jenna said. “They listened to me and we put a plan in place together. That really meant a lot to us.”

Maple Grove Hospital didn’t feel like a hospital, she said. “It felt like a comfortable, relaxing, peaceful environment.”

 

Remembering Noah

The Rogers family started Noah’s Memorial SIDS foundation, which raises money through an annual golf tournament, Noah’s Memorial Classic.

The event, now in its seventh year, is held each July and supports SIDS research and helps families who have experienced child loss.

The nurses Jenna and Scott met the day Noah died come to the golf tournament every year. “They are so supportive to us, so many years later,” Jenna said. Going beyond hospital walls is a testament to the connection the Maple Grove Hospital team felt to the Rogers family, but also how it feels about all its patients. “It’s really truly incredible.” Jenna says of her healthcare team’s commitment.

 

Check out the full Spring Issue of Maple Grove Hospital Magazine.