LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Kyle and Anne Rutherford say there was a “miracle vibe” in the room, after a big concern over their premature baby seemingly solved itself, in what they called a medical mystery. What they say was no mystery at all, though, was the level of care they received in the NICU at UMC Children’s Hospital.
Their baby girl’s story is part of the 43rd Annual Children’s Miracle Network City Bank Celebration Broadcast on KCBD NewsChannel 11. The United Supermarkets Phone Bank can be reached at 806-747-KIDS (5437).
The Rutherfords, both Lubbock natives, married nearly two years ago. Anne said she always wanted kids, and the couple decided it was time to add a little one to the family mix after getting married.
Their little girl was due in March 2026, but Anne’s water broke in December, three months early.
“I was admitted to the hospital and they were like, yeah, you’re going to be here for the next eight weeks at least,” Anne said.
When a mother’s water breaks early, Neonatologist Dr. Joy Tenpenny says the goal is usually to keep the baby in the womb as long as possible, while balancing the risk of infection. The Rutherfords’ baby girl had other plans.
“She was like, no, just kidding. I’m going to come two days later,” Anne said.
Eleanor Rutherford arrived at 26 weeks, weighing 1 pound, 14 ounces and measuring just over a foot long.
“She could like fit in the palm of his hand, basically,” Anne said.
Little Eleanor was sent to the NICU soon after she was born. Dr. Tenpenny said premature babies face challenges across multiple organ systems.
“Any time a baby is born prematurely, I tell mom and dad to think of it as every organ system is premature,” Tenpenny said.
The Rutherfords became familiar with sudden drops in Eleanor’s heart rate and oxygen levels during her time in the NICU. Anne said leaving Eleanor at the hospital each evening was difficult.
“At first, it was really hard. It was one of those gut-wrenching things of you’re leaving your baby somewhere. And this is not how you kind of envision having your first child of having to leave her behind when she should be coming home with you,” Anne said.
Kyle said the round-the-clock care Eleanor received provided reassurance.
“This is, we do this 24/7, 365. And although it wasn’t quote-unquote, ideal, it was very, at least calming for me, knowing that the level of care that she was having around the clock was almost routine,” Kyle said.
At three weeks old, doctors found a hole in Eleanor’s heart and scheduled surgery to repair it. Just before the procedure, doctors called Anne with different news.
“They called me, they were like, hey, we actually aren’t doing surgery. Um, we can’t close the hole because there is no hole in her heart,” Anne said.
“I know in the medical field, they prefer to have some sort of potential reasoning, but there was a very big, I guess you’d call it ‘miracle vibe’ in the room that day,” Kyle said.
That wasn’t the only miracle along Eleanor’s journey. AngelEye cameras in the NICU helped the Rutherfords watch over Eleanor even when they had to leave the hospital.
“I know that was a help I didn’t realize how big it would be, especially for us just to be able to quickly look and go, she’s okay. She’s sleeping, you know, or she’s, you know, making a funny face or whatever she was doing,” Kyle said.
Little notes let them know when Eleanor was hitting milestones, like moving out of her isolette and into to her crib.
“Those angel-eye cameras meant everything to us while we were in there. And so, knowing that the Children’s Miracle Network provided that for us is huge,” Anne said.
Dr. Tenpenny said the cameras ensured families didn’t miss a thing, inside or out of the hospital.
“When things are so crazy and you have a baby in the NICU, you do need a component of stability in your life. And so, to be able to go home and sleep in your own bed and to see your dogs and your other kids, I don’t think that you can put a price tag on that,” Tenpenny said.
Eleanor spent 12 weeks in the NICU, and she had a lot of people watching over her. Kyle said the family got to know the staff well during that time.
“After a while, we basically knew everyone’s name and if they were in a relationship and how long they’d worked there and everything else,” Kyle said.
Anne said the staff’s care made leaving the NICU bittersweet.
“The UMC staff was incredible to us and it was kind of funny. Not that we wanted to stay in the NICU longer, but I mean, they made it hard to leave. And you just knew that your child was cared for,” Anne said.
While it was hard for them to leave, making sure premature babies like theirs can go home is the whole idea. Kyle says Eleanor is an example of the direct impact of donations to the Children’s Miracle Network.
“If you want to know where your donations and where this stuff can lead, exhibit A,” Kyle said.
Miracle Makers pledge $20 a month for one year. All money donated stays at UMC Children’s Hospital to purchase equipment and fund special services. Donations can also be made online at www.umchealthsystem.com/giving/give-now/.
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