Life-saving care all in one place
A happy ending for mom and baby
Char and Michael Solberg, of Fargo, hoped the birth of their second child would go just as smoothly as the birth of their firstborn, Grace. But five months into the pregnancy, they learned differently.
A routine ultrasound revealed a potentially dangerous condition called placenta previa. In this condition, the placenta — the organ that supports the baby while inside the mother — completely or partially covers the cervix (the lower part of the uterus). Occurring in less than one percent of all births, the condition often resolves on its own during pregnancy, but when it doesn't, extra care must be taken. Years ago, the condition likely contributed to a higher number of mothers and babies dying during childbirth. Today, placenta previa can be identified early and steps taken to ensure the safest possible delivery for mother and baby.
Read more about the Solbergs
New NICU offers family-centered care
If you're an expectant parent, you'll be glad to know nine in 10 births are normal. But for that one baby in 10, expert care is readily available at MeritCare Children's Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
Surviving the unthinkable
Though it's been more than a year since 5-year-old Adam nearly drowned, flashbacks still haunt his mother, Jill Thompson.
The healing power of music
Last summer, 17-year-old Christopher Pueppke began his fight against a rare form of cancer called Burkitt's lymphoma.
Pain-free at last
Myrna Krogman suffered such severe pain in her lower back she could barely sit, stand, walk or even sleep. "It was the worst burning ache," says the 67-year-old from Ottertail, Minn.
Putting the pieces together
David Offerdahl knew trouble was just ahead. Standing on his ladder, reaching up to put knotty pine in a vaulted ceiling, he felt his ladder begin to move.
Rehab makes life possible
To put it simply, in August 2004, Amer Lalic's life was forever changed. Joking around with friends at a lake near Hankinson, N.D., he dove from shore into shallow water, hit bottom and broke his neck.
A gift for a friend
When Bonnie Anderson of Bemidji, Minn., went to her class reunion in nearby Bagley, Minn., she had one goal: to enjoy her time with friends. She wanted to forget about her struggles with long-standing chronic kidney disease, forget about how close she was to needing kidney dialysis, forget about the kidney waiting list she'd been on for more than two years.
Clinical research trials advance medicine — and benefit patients
What is the value of a clinical research trial? Peggy Erstad, who has worked in the clinical research field for several years and is now a clinical research site manager at MeritCare, has seen firsthand how clinical research trials can benefit people.