Struble Family Story

Thank you for your generosity and compassion.

When Mark and Taylor Struble of South Haven reflect on their experiences at Ridgeview, they can’t help but feel immense gratitude for the care they received during some of the most challenging and joyful moments of their lives.

Taylor and Mark’s first experience with Ridgeview was one of heartbreak. During her first pregnancy, she experienced a miscarriage at 16 weeks.

“It was one of those situations where I couldn’t go home,” she recalls. “I had to have surgery, and that’s when I first saw the incredible care Ridgeview provides.”

A few months later, Taylor and Mark discovered they were expecting again. Their excitement was tempered with caution. At 35 weeks, a routine appointment turned urgent. Taylor’s blood pressure was dangerously high, her platelets were dropping, and her liver enzymes were elevated. The Ridgeview team acted swiftly.

“It was time—baby Walker was coming into this world,” remembers Carly Weber, RN, Ridgeview NICU and Labor & Delivery Nurse.

Walker was born at 35 weeks, and as a preterm baby, he required immediate care in Ridgeview’s Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Fortunately for the Struble family, Ridgeview partnered with Children’s Minnesota to expand its neonatal services, offering advanced technology and expertise to infants as young as 30 weeks gestational age. Walker was able to receive exceptional care at the NICU right here in the community, and Taylor and Mark didn’t have to travel far to see Walker.

“Knowing we were in the best place possible made all the difference,” Taylor said.

The NICU team provided exceptional care, helping Walker learn to eat and breathe independently. When he was finally able to go home a few days later, the Strubles knew they had Ridgeview to thank for their healthy baby boy.

What struck Taylor and Mark the most was the Ridgeview staff’s genuine kindness and dedication. Leaving Ridgeview was bittersweet for Mark.

“When the day came to leave, I was almost sad. The staff had become like family. I knew I wouldn’t be coming back the next morning to check in and talk with them,” Mark said.

“It’s a hospital, but it feels more like home,” Weber says.

The Struble family’s story is a powerful example of the extraordinary care Ridgeview provides to patients and their families. Their experience also highlights the vital role Ridgeview’s expanded NICU services play in delivering specialized care, keeping families close to home during critical moments.

These advancements in Ridgeview’s Pediatrics program are made possible thanks to the generosity of our community. Philanthropy enables Ridgeview to provide all newborns with a HALO Sleepsack, promoting safe sleep from the start. It also supports innovations like NICVIEW™, a streaming video system that lets families stay connected by watching their newborn’s progress in the NICU. Additionally, Ridgeview’s clinical teams receive advanced training using “Super Tori,” a high-fidelity neonatal simulator, purchased through donations to Ridgeview Foundation.

By supporting Ridgeview Foundation, you ensure families like the Strubles have access to exceptional, compassionate care when they need it most.

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Thank you for your generosity and compassion.