A year ago, Dr. Leonard Ezenagu, Luther Midelfort obstetrician and gynecologist, delivered five baby girls in three and a half hours. On November 20, the five families will celebrate their daughters’ first birthday at a party at Luther Midelfort.
Contact: Susan Barber Lindquist
715-838-3012
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. –– Five babies. All girls. Delivered by one doctor — in three and a half hours.
November 22, 2008, was a day to remember for Dr. Leonard Ezenagu, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Luther Midelfort’s Women’s Health Center. In the more than 12 years he has been delivering babies, Ezenagu says he never has experienced anything like it.
Nearly a year later, the five families will reunite with each other and with their doctor and nurses at a 1st Birthday Party for:
• Taylor Jo Schoelzel, daughter of Mandy and Shawn Schoelzel of Chippewa Falls (born 3:10 a.m.)
• Valerie Alice Mullen, daughter of Shelly and David Mullen of Eau Claire (born 4:05 a.m.)
• Claire Naomi Hable, daughter of Julie and Wayne Hable of Chippewa Falls (born 4:29 a.m.)
• Samantha Grace Risen, daughter of Carmen and Daniel Risen of Mondovi (born 6:01 a.m.)
• Amelia Joanne Saamanen, daughter of Jaclyn Bifulk and Ryan Saamanen of Duluth, Minn. (born 6:44 a.m.)
The party will be November 20 at Luther Midelfort, complete with party hats, cake and a “Happy Birthday to You” serenade.
Ezenagu remembers thinking his shift started out as a “normal day,” but he anticipated some fathers might miss their babies’ delivery because gun deer hunting season had started. “I never expected what happened,” Ezenagu says.
Ezenagu went from room to room between about 3:15 and 6:45 a.m. on that special day, working with the staff helping each mother. The best part, Ezengau says, was that all the families had excellent outcomes — healthy babies and moms.
“That’s the thing that humbles me. Everybody delivered safely, all naturally, no C-sections involved. And all girls! I’m surprised at that,” says Ezenagu, who has a picture of himself holding one pink-blanketed baby girl and surrounded by four bassinets with pink bundles.
Ezenagu expresses his thanks for Luther Midelfort’s great teamwork, from the nurses to the staff cleaning the rooms. “This was not a one-person effort,” he says. He also appreciates the patience all the families showed one another and the staff that day, considering the unusual circumstances.
All birth stories are special. This one just made news around the country after area media picked up the story, and word of these five fast births traveled around the nation.
These families have their own unique memories of that time. Risen, in fact, ended up laboring for a while in the Women’s Health waiting area on second floor of the hospital until a room was ready for her. The nurses put up a divider, hooked her to a baby monitor and kept checking on her.
“They made me feel like I was just one person up there having my baby,” Risen says as Samantha babbles and plays nearby. “I commend the staff and doctor for doing their jobs as efficiently as they could.”
When Risen tells people about Samantha’s interesting birth, she is quick to point out that even though she arrived fifth to the hospital, she actually delivered fourth. “We beat somebody,” she says with a laugh.
Now the five families and Luther Midelfort staff are looking forward to getting together to reminisce and see the big smiles, first teeth and many other changes a year brings to little girls.
“I’m excited to see how they’re developing, growing,” Ezenagu says. “Usually, after delivery, we never get to see the baby again. I’d like to know that everybody is doing well.”
Attention: Media are invited to attend the birthday party on Friday, Nov. 20. For time and location, contact Susan Barber Lindquist at 715-838-3012 or barberlindquist.susan@mayo.edu.
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In partnership with Mayo Clinic, Luther Midelfort offers a full range of quality medical services, including cardiac and orthopedic surgery, cancer and trauma care programs. Through a network of community-based healthcare providers in west-central Wisconsin, Luther Midelfort provides access to experts close to home.
