Tricia had been a patient of Prevea Women’s Care Obstetrician/Gynecologist (OB/GYN) Jennifer Milosavljevic, MD, since her first pregnancy in 2018. Despite living an hour away in Marinette, her experience with “Dr. Milo” was so positive that she returned to the Prevea Allouez Health Center for her second pregnancy in 2022, and again for her third pregnancy in 2024. 

The first two trimesters of her third pregnancy felt completely “normal.” However, when her water broke early at just 24 weeks, what began as a typical day quickly transformed into a high-stakes journey to HSHS St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay, where every second mattered. 

To save her baby, they had to act quickly. 

When Tricia arrived at HSHS St. Vincent Hospital, she learned Dr. Milo was not working that day. However, she was met by another “kind and comforting” Prevea OB/GYN, 
Allison Gustafson, MD. After a swift assessment of the situation, Dr. Gustafson 
determined that an emergency C-section was the essential next step for the baby’s survival. 
 
“Dr. Gustafson did everything she could to try to get baby to stay inside, but Atlas decided he just really wanted to come into the world,” said Tricia. 
 
Shortly before the surgery with Dr. Gustafson, Dr. Milo arrived at the hospital to check on Tricia and calm her fears. Tricia remembers feeling touched that Dr. Milo would make a special trip just to offer comforting words. 
 
“Dr. Milo came up to my arm and said, ‘I just want to let you know that I’m here and we’re going to do everything we can to save your baby,’” said Tricia. “She was so amazing throughout the whole process.” 
 

Expert care in the HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital NICU  

Atlas came into the world on Oct. 28, 2024, and was taken immediately to the NICU at HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital, located within the walls of HSHS St. Vincent Hospital and just steps away from the Women and Infants Center where Tricia was recovering. Tricia remembers how comforted she felt knowing the NICU was so close and her care team kept her informed at every turn. 
 
“It’s scary when your baby goes to the NICU,” Tricia said. “You wake up from your C-section, and you don’t know if your baby is okay. Everyone is so good about coming in to talk to you right away, so you never feel like you’re in the dark.” 
 
Atlas needed care from the NICU for three months. Throughout that time, Tricia felt like her doctors, nurses and other members of her care team became like a second family. 
 

“They weren’t just there for my baby, they were there for me,” said Tricia.  

Resilience, healing and gratitude 

After nearly a year of neonatal intensive care, Atlas was cleared to go home. Tricia felt so grateful that her baby boy had made it through. 
 
“He was in very rough shape and needed lifesaving efforts, but we are so blessed that he is here with us today. Because of our amazing care teams, my son is here today,” Tricia said. 
 
Looking back, Tricia is so grateful she decided to deliver her babies at HSHS St. Vincent Hospital. The hospital in her rural town doesn’t have a NICU, and it brought her comfort to know that her baby had access to expert NICU care just down the hall. 
 
For Tricia and her family, HSHS St. Vincent Hospital isn’t just a hospital; it’s the place where their son was met with the care he needed to survive. By choosing a hospital that prioritizes both clinical expertise and deep personal compassion, Tricia ensured that even in her most vulnerable moments, she and Atlas were never alone.