Miracle in the Meadowlands amid Hurricane Sandy
As the wind howled and rain slanted down amid Hurricane Sandy’s fury, Magdelene was born at Meadowlands Medical Center.
Born to Rachel Nijinimbam, 31 years old, an event coordinator, originally from Ghana, with her husband, Mathias Shotolu, 45 years old, a businessman, originally from Nigeria, Magdelene arrived at 1:17 a.m. as the storm raged outside and tides rose. It was a miracle of birth amid one of the worst storms to ever hit the metropolitan area.
Although power outages savaged most of Hudson County, Meadowlands Medical Center – located in Secaucus on the banks of the Hackensack River – maintained power and thus light and warmth thanks to back-up generators.
When the power was lost to the Secaucus area, Dr. Miriam Langer, an experienced and passionate health provider and her staff, worked tirelessly against the winds and the early hours to provide a miracle to a mother, who said she felt blessed and relieved after the whole procedure was over. Now Magdelene will join her two-year-old sister Emma and go back home to Bayonne safely with her parents.
In a press release issued after the event, hospital officials said, “MHMC has gone above and beyond the call of duty to make sure these kinds of miracles happen, even when conditions are at their worst. We made sure that everyone who needs medical attention will be as comfortable as possible with extra bedding and emergency provisions. In addition, we had fully staffed and equipped two Alternate Care Sites in West New York and at the Huber Street Elementary School in Secaucus. These two emergency medical centers were set up as part of our commitment to continue providing miracles.”
The release went on to say, “How does MHMC make miracles happen every day? For us, it is simply a combination of professionalism and heart, merging the best doctors with the best equipment, coupled with an incredible maintenance and nursing staff. All miracles need help and Meadowlands delivers everyday, rain or shine.”
Hospital updates
Bayonne Medical Center in Bayonne and Christ Hospital in Jersey City are back on full power after several days running on generator power. Both hospitals will resume normal emergency and other services, although hospital officials said that patients who have scheduled elective surgery should check with the hospital before assuming that surgery will take place, said Allyson Miller, spokesperson for the hospital. BMC also may not resume outpatient services right away so patients should also call the hospital to find out the latest information.
Meanwhile Hoboken University Medical Center is still dealing with the aftermath of flooding, but will continue urgent care services for walkup patients at its emergency room from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. until further notice. Those patients who require more substantial treatment such as delivery or surgery will be transferred to Christ Hospital, Bayonne Medical Center, or another area hospital.
For emergency situations, residents should call 9-1-1, but for general questions, they should call the general number to each hospital: Bayonne Medical Center at (201) 858-5000; Hoboken University Hospital at (201) 418-1000; or Christ Hospital at (201) 795-8200.
Memorial blood drive held for Michael Romano
A blood drive in memory of Michael Romano will be held by New Jersey Blood Services (NJBS), a division of the New York Blood Center, at St. Henry’s Church, located at 77 West 28th St. in Bayonne, on Nov. 9 from 1 to 7 p.m.
Michael was stricken with cancer at the age of 4 ½ and succumbed to the disease in 2006 at age of 11.
Diagnosed with nerve cell cancer at age 4, Michael underwent extensive treatment and received more than 250 transfusions of either platelet or red blood cells. He was a former student of Midtown Community School.
“Even though he had been diagnosised with cancer since he was four-and-a-half-years-old, he didn’t act sick,” said his fourth grade teacher Elisha Mele recalled. “He always smiled and did his best when he was in class.”
More than 45 kids a day are diagnosed with the same type of cancer from which Michael had died, more than 8,000 kids per year.
While being treated, Michael played baseball for Bayonne Cal Ripken and enjoyed fishing.
The Romano family is asking all eligible donors to give the gift of life at the Nov. 9 drive. A single blood donation can help save the lives of three people and will help maintain your community blood supply this holiday season.
For more information on donations or organizing a donation drive, call (800) 933-2566 or visit nybloodcenter.org.
Senators applaud EPA decision to allow more fuel into NJ
U.S. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) recently applauded the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for helping expedite delivery of fuel to New Jersey. In a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, the senators asked that the EPA temporarily ease some biofuel delivery rules at East Coast shipping facilities in order to relieve the fuel shortage in New Jersey caused by Superstorm Sandy, and the EPA granted this request.
Due to damaged fuel terminals in New Jersey, millions of gallons of biofuels are currently unable to reach the state. But with the recent decision by the EPA, fuel can now be transported by train to other facilities on the east coast, such as Baltimore, Maryland, then shipped up to New Jersey.