Gianna

In late March 2020, Rachel Galluppi went into labor — 35 weeks into her pregnancy. She and her husband, Francis, rushed to Huntington Hospital. After examining Rachel, caregivers determined that her baby was in breech position. Rachel would need a cesarean section right away.

Only an hour after the Galluppis arrived at the hospital, baby Gianna arrived. Though she seemed in good health at first, within just a few hours, Gianna began to have serious problems. Gianna’s lungs had not fully developed, and she needed help to breathe. She was quickly moved to our NICU.

Home to the only level-III NICU in our service region, we provide the most advanced care for premature and very sick babies. The Galluppi family already knew us well: Francis and one of his brothers also received care here when they were born. “They saved my life,” says Francis, “and I was confident Gianna was getting the best care, too.” He adds that he was impressed by the caring staff — some of whom even remembered him and his family from his own time here, 31 years earlier.

In addition to receiving respiratory support, Gianna needed to be fed via a tube. She also received therapy to strengthen her legs, which were impacted by her breech position in the womb. Due to the pandemic, “Everyone always wore masks and there were all sorts of sanitation precautions,” says Francis. “They were the best about keeping us safe.”

After 10 days of advanced care, Gianna was ready to go home. Today, she is meeting her developmental milestones — and is healthy, happy and curious about the world.

“We really want to thank the hospital’s staff for caring for our daughter, for teaching us everything we needed to know, and for just being amazing human beings,” says Francis.

Learn what to expect during your pregnancy. Have a healthy pregnancy by finding a local OBGYN specializing in women’s health and affiliated with Huntington Hospital.