Texas County Memorial Hospital (TCMH) staff are being commended for their swift, life-saving response during an emergency C-section that saved both a mother and her newborn son in late March.
Sammantha Bemis of Salem arrived at the TCMH emergency room on March 25 believing she was in early labor. At just over 35 weeks pregnant, her physician, Dr. Christopher Baldwin, initially suspected a kidney stone or appendicitis. While awaiting test results, Sammantha suffered a seizure due to high blood pressure—leading to a diagnosis of preeclampsia.
Her condition rapidly worsened, with plummeting body temperature and elevated liver enzymes. Dr. Baldwin and a team of TCMH staff acted immediately, performing an emergency C-section that resulted in the birth of baby Hunter at 9:16 a.m. He weighed 4 pounds, 15 ounces.
Sammantha required blood transfusions and was airlifted to St. Louis for further treatment, where she recovered and was discharged on March 31. Baby Hunter spent two weeks in the NICU before being reunited with his family, including brothers Colt, 3, and River, 1, on April 9.
