OLEAN, NY – Olean, NY – For Denae Gargano of Olean, choosing Olean General Hospital (OGH) to welcome her baby felt like the clear choice.

“I knew the quality of care I’d receive here,” Gargano said. “It’s close to home, and my last delivery in November 2024 went so well.”

But this time, delivery unfolded differently. As the weeks progressed, Gargano experienced mounting complications, including high blood pressure, persistent pain near her liver, worsening headaches and vision issues. By the time labor began, the OGH obstetrics team was carefully monitoring her condition and ready to act when the time for intervention was deemed necessary.

After more than thirteen hours of labor, Vincenzo Arthur Gargano was born on January 1 at 3:55 p.m., weighing 6 pounds, 9 ounces and measuring 19.5 inches long. As the first baby born at OGH in the New Year, his arrival was a moment of joy and celebration for the family.

That joy quickly shifted to fear.

Soon after delivery, an OGH nurse noticed that something wasn’t right with Vincenzo’s breathing. Acting quickly, the care team intervened, taking critical steps to stabilize him.

“The nurses quick response made all the difference in getting him the care he needed. If we’d taken him home without noticing the warning signs, Vincenzo’s lungs would have collapsed,” Gargano said.

Vincenzo remained at OGH under close observation while the team coordinated the next step in his care, a transfer to Golisano Children’s Hospital in Buffalo for specialized neonatal intensive care. The transition was seamless, made possible through the strong partnership within Kaleida Health.

The Neonatal Transport Team arrived directly from Buffalo to safely transport Vincenzo. As they prepared him for the journey, the team brought Vincenzo to his mother so she could see him one more time before transport.

“It was a winter storm on New Year’s Day, so knowing the risks of driving in those conditions made me that much more nervous,” Gargano said. “But the team reassured me that these were their favorite drivers and that Vincenzo was in great hands.”

While her husband, Michael, traveled with their newborn, Gargano had to remain overnight at OGH to recover from delivery.

“That was one of the hardest nights of my life,” she said. “Being separated from my baby just hours after his birth was incredibly emotional. But the nurses stayed with me, explained everything and supported me when I needed it most. They truly helped put my mind at ease.”

At Golisano Children’s Hospital, Vincenzo was diagnosed and treated for respiratory distress, neonatal respiratory acidosis, hyaline membrane disease and surfactant disorder. He spent more than four days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), receiving around-the-clock, specialized care.

Gargano traveled to Buffalo immediately after being discharged from OGH and remained by her son’s side throughout his NICU stay. While in Buffalo, Denae and Michael stayed at the Ronald McDonald House, which allowed them to remain close to Vincenzo and provided a sense of comfort during an incredibly stressful time. Vincenzo’s four older siblings remained in the care of family and friends in Olean, whose support was irreplaceable.

“Knowing that [Golisano] Children’s Hospital has one of the best NICUs in the region made me feel confident that Vincenzo was in good hands,” she said. “Having that level of care so close to home is incredibly important for families in our region.”

In the weeks since, Gargano had been able to share her experience and show praise for the care she received close to home. The partnership that OGH and Golisano Children’s Hospital of Buffalo through Kaleida Health were a vital part of supporting the Gargano family during this crisis.

“We’re grateful that OGH still provides labor and delivery services here locally,” Gargano added. “I know that many hospitals nearby no longer do. I am so glad the system is connected and partnered and that enabled the best quality care for our son.”

Recently, Denae, Vincenzo, Michael, and one of Vincenzo’s sisters, Rosalia, returned to Olean General Hospital to share their story and thank the obstetrics team. They were welcomed by familiar faces, warm hugs and a room filled with emotion and gratitude.

“This is the nurse who was here when I delivered, she was wonderful,” Gargano said, recognizing Ashley Ball, RN, who has been caring for mothers and babies at OGH since 2019.

“We are forever grateful for the individuals and teams that saved our son’s life and provided excellent care for our family,” said Gargano.