Meeting Baby Jacqueline
Dr. Jacqueline Salas-Spiegel, an adult endocrinologist at the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, was beaming with pride upon receiving a very, very special introduction.
Her patient Lorena Rodriguez was at the Berrie Center for a post-partum follow-up visit with her baby girl in tow.
“Dr. Salas-Spiegel, meet Jacqueline,” Lorena said while bouncing her daughter on her lap. “I named my baby after you.”
Cue the hugs, the tears and the many photographs taken of Dr. Jacqueline Salas-Spiegel and baby Jacqueline Rodriguez. “I was so surprised and overwhelmed with appreciation,” recalled Dr. Salas-Spiegel.
The meeting was special for many reasons. At one point, Lorena felt like she would never be able to have another child. She desperately wanted a sibling for her son, now a teen. Lorena came to Dr. Salas-Spiegel for the first time about 3 years ago, in despair. She struggled with type 2 diabetes. Her blood sugars were unstable, she didn’t pay attention to nutrition and generally didn’t feel well overall. Lorena yearned for a baby, but she suffered two miscarriages in the past. This left her feeling hopeless.
Upon meeting Dr. Salas-Spiegel for the first time, everything changed.
“She helped me understand what I needed to do to improve my health,” Lorena said. “She recommended I use insulin and a sensor to have a better understanding of when my sugar is high or low.”
Lorena did exactly what she was advised, and started working closely with diabetes educator Leora Apfelbaum, MEd, MS, RDN, CDN, CDCES as well. Lorena said she felt in control of her health for the first time in a long time. “Leora taught me to count calories, and I was very on top of it,” she said.
And then, the unexpected happened.
“To be honest, I never expected to get pregnant,” Lorena said. “After two miscarriages, it’s not easy to try again. The news made me so happy, but I also felt a lot of fear about losing the baby.”
Given the high-risk nature of her pregnancy, Lorena remained in close contact with her care team. They saw her weekly to make sure she was maintaining good control.
“After the first four months, I was able to relax a little more and enjoy my pregnancy,” Lorena said. “Dr. Salas-Spiegel and Leora are my two new angels. Without them I wouldn’t have taken control of my diabetes. They helped me to accomplish a full-term pregnancy, so I am very grateful.”
Lorena gave birth at NYP Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital to a healthy baby girl on Nov. 2, 2023.
Jacqueline, now a toddler, loves to dance, loves music, and likes to spend time at the park. She likes to play with toys and follow around her little dog Chiwawa.
“Thanks to the excellent attention that I received at the hospital and the excellent doctors, G-d gave me a chance to bring this beautiful baby girl into the world,” Lorena said. “I’m grateful for all the doctors that gave me such wonderful attention. All I can say is, thank you.”
After the visit with the Rodriguez family, Dr. Salas-Spiegel took a moment to take in the enormity of the moment. Finally, she said, “This is why I became a doctor.”