Dr. Mark and Amanda Voellinger of Wheeling realized the importance of West Virginia University Children’s Hospital when they attended a 2014 fundraising gala, but had no idea that six weeks later their newborn baby would need those services.

The Voellingers plan to attend the 11th annual Ohio Valley Gala at Wheeling Park’s White Palace Saturday, Aug. 1, fully aware now that up-to-date technology and gentle care by the medical staff at WVU Children’s Hospital helped to save the life of their second daughter, Vivienne, who turns 10 months old today.

“We are looking forward to it,” Amanda said. “It’s a wonderful thing to support here in the community. It is so important.”

Amanda was in her seventh month of pregnancy when she and Mark, a gastroenterologist at Ohio Valley Medical Center and East Ohio Regional Hospital, joined a group from OVMC for the gala last August. The Voellingers had made a donation to support the NICVIEW cameras at WVU Children’s Hospital. Upon their arrival at the White Palace, they were asked to pose for a photograph in front of the pediatric transport ambulance.

“Six weeks later, that was the same ambulance that transported Vivi” to the hospital in Morgantown and “we actually utilized one of those cameras,” Amanda said. The NICVIEW camera provided a vital link for them to monitor Vivienne as she was treated in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Amanda was having a normal second pregnancy and had no reason to suspect any potential problems. She had an uncomplicated “textbook” delivery with their older daughter, Giuliana, 3, who was born on New Year’s Day in 2012.

Vivienne, though, was born five weeks early on Sept. 23 at OVMC. “I had just gone to a regular appoinment and they sent me to labor and delivery that day because of some complications,” Amanda said.

“A few days after she was born, her temperature dropped. They did some testing and found her blood platelets were very low,” Amanda said.

The baby was transported to WVU Children’s, where neonatalogists and pediatric hematologists diagnosed her with a rare condition called neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia, Mark said. While hospitalized, the infant received blood transfusions and a couple of platelet transfusions.

“She spent 10 days in the NICU. That’s where we could access the cameras 24/7,” he said.

Mark remained in Morgantown for the first few days, while Amanda stayed the entire time, going to a family member’s home to rest at night.

With the NICVIEW cameras, parents can see their babies in “the NICU 24 hours a day, by phone, mobile device, tablet,” from any location, Amanda explained. “The first few days were extremely difficult to leave her, but to be able to take your tablet to the cafeteria made all the difference in the world.”

They said their baby received exceptional care from compassionate, knowledgeable staff at WVU Children’s Hospital. “We saw they catered to every aspect of care there. It was exceptional,” Amanda said.

As a physician, Mark said, “It certainly was different to see it from the other side. It was different and scary at the same time.

“I had done a lot of training at WVU. I was very familiar with the hospital. I was very comforted by the fact that she was there,” he added.

In the 10-day stay, he said, “We realized how fortunate we were. A lot of families had been there for months.”

Amanda remarked, “In the short amount of time we were there, we saw that the donations to this hospital provide such a tremendous support for the technology that is there. For the families who are there much longer, it is really, really such a help.”

She added, “For the families who live far away, the nursing staff at WVU Children’s Hospital provides the essential support to these babies, making sure they are getting that stimulation and interaction that they so much need.”

The Voellingers take Vivienne to the WVU Children’s Pediatric Hematology Clinic, “mainly just for periodic bloodwork and monitoring,” Amanda said. Vivienne’s last transfusion was administered in November.

“They anticipate that this condition is resolved at this point,” Mark said. “They figure that no further treatments will be necessary.”

Reviewing Vivienne’s progress, Amanda said, “She’s a little small. … She hits her milestones exactly the month when she is supposed to. So she’s doing fantastic.”

Both Amanda and Mark grew up in Wheeling and attended Wheeling Central Catholic High School and WVU. Mark also graduated from WVU School of Medicine.

After living in Washington, D.C. for a few years, they moved back to Wheeling last June. “It’s nice to be home,” Amanda said.