Anna and Nate Weeber reunite with Justin Singer, MD, the Spectrum Health neurosurgeon who helped save Anna’s life after she experienced a ruptured aneurysm when she was 25 weeks pregnant.
Anna Weeber holds her 3-week-old son, Hudson, in her arms. But when Anna had an aneurysm at 25 weeks pregnant, the outcome could have been very different. Thanks to Justin Singer, MD, the family can start their life together. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Dr. Singer's wife was pregnant at the same time he cared for Anna. "This is fantastic ... it makes me feel good," Dr. Singer said, his eyes welling with tears. "I didn't expect to feel so emotional." (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
The Weeber family reunited with Dr. Singer and also had the opportunity to meet his wife, Lori, and their month-old daughter, Jordyn. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Lori Singer and Anna Weeber hold their newborn babies, Jordyn and Hudson. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
The Weeber's 2-year-old son, Declan, gives his brother Hudson a kiss on the forehead. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Dr. Singer smiles as he holds Hudson, the baby whose life he saved, in his arms for the first time. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
"After Hudson was first born, he and I would make eye contact when I was holding him and I would just start crying," Anna said. "We had both been through so much, and I felt like he knew that." (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Nurse practitioner Julie Wubs wipes tears away as she sees Anna and Hudson for the first time together after being treated at the hospital. Wubs explains how nice it is to see them both doing so well. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
"(Hudson's) just a little chunk compared to her," Anna said. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Declan, 2, runs around the room excitedly. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Hudson sleeps in Anna's arms as she talks about how she and Nate first met. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Dr. Singer gives Declan a present. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Dr. Singer invited the Weebers to join him on St. Patrick's Day at the Griffins hockey game, where Anna will be honored as the "miracle patient" from Spectrum Health's Neurosciences Neurovascular Program. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Julie Wubs gives Anna a big hug as she visits the floor where she received care for two weeks when she had her aneurysm. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
"She was always so kind," Wubs said. "Even when she didn't feel well, she always had a smile on her face." (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
"I'm glad to see Anna looking so healthy and so beautiful," Dr. Singer said. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
"It makes us not only grateful for Justin, but just to live in an area where we have somebody as capable as that, to be able to do what he does everyday ... is just wonderful," Nate said. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Three-week-old Hudson Weeber slept blissfully in his mother’s arms while his energetic 2-year-old brother, Declan, ran circles around his parents at Spectrum Health Fred and Lena Meijer Heart Center.
Neither child understood the significance of the moment.
Their parents, Anna and Nate Weeber, were about to be reunited with Justin Singer, MD, the Spectrum Health neurosurgeon who helped save Anna’s life after she experienced a ruptured brain aneurysm at 25 weeks pregnant.
“I’m so excited!” Anna said. “This is the guy that saved my life and my baby’s life.”
Within moments, Dr. Singer arrived to a flurry of hugs and handshakes. He soon reached out to cuddle Hudson, who’d been born in late December at a hefty 9 pounds 4 ounces.
“This is fantastic … it makes me feel good,” Dr. Singer said, his eyes welling with tears. “I didn’t expect to feel so emotional.”
For Nate and Anna, the moment felt especially poignant because Dr. Singer’s wife had been pregnant at about the same time as Anna.
“It gave us peace of mind,” Nate said.
As the reunion ensued, Dr. Singer introduced the Weebers to his wife, Lori, and their month-old daughter, Jordyn, a dark-haired beauty who surprised her parents by arriving on Christmas Eve.
Medical care—and prayer
This story could have ended much differently.
Statistically, 50 percent of patients don’t survive a ruptured aneurysm. Most survivors don’t return to their full state of health.
Anna beat the odds. Her only side effect is she now snores, a minor annoyance her husband gladly accepts.
Because of her medical history, she’ll continue to be monitored, Dr. Singer said.
But her prognosis is good.
“I’m glad to see Anna looking so healthy and so beautiful,” the doctor said.
Although thoughts of the aneurysm were in the back of Anna’s mind during labor and delivery, all went smoothly.
“After Hudson was first born, he and I would make eye contact when I was holding him and I would just start crying,” Anna said. “We had both been through so much, and I felt like he knew that.”
She and her husband credit her good outcome to excellent medical care and the power of prayer. Anna’s healing is nothing short of a miracle, they believe.
Dr. Singer agrees.
“People all around the world were praying for us,” said Nate, who issued a prayer request on Facebook during the ambulance ride to the hospital.
Although this was the first time the patient and doctor were reunited, it definitely won’t be the last.
Dr. Singer invited the Weebers to join him on St. Patrick’s Day at the Griffins hockey game, where Anna will be honored as the “miracle patient” from Spectrum Health’s Neurosciences Neurovascular Program.
The Spectrum Health Neurosciences Neurovascular Program provides the highest level of medical and surgical care, 24/7 at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital, for patients with conditions such as aneurysm and stroke. A specialized team consisting of neurologists, neurosurgeons, neurointerventional, neurocritical care and advanced practice providers—one of the largest in the state of Michigan—provides comprehensive care. For more information or to request an appointment, call 616.267.7900.
What a miracle – God is good
God is good all the time and all the time God is good
Gaithersburg, Maryland sends happy thoughts to both beautiful b u idle of joys!! Continued good health to both of them and their families……
…….bundles……