Charlotte Woman Says Hospital Forced To Delay Vital Surgery For Daughter Due To Increased Covid Cases

CHARLOTTE — A Charlotte family says a vitally important surgery to help their daughter breathe on her own is now on hold due to the rising number of children in the hospital sick with Covid-19.

The Staggs family hoped their 7-year-old daughter Emma would soon have her breathing tube removed at UNC Chapel Hill.  The child was born premature, and has had persistent respiratory issues.  Doctors inserted a tracheostomy tube to help her breathe.

Doctors at UNC Chapel Hill soon gave the family hope that Emma could finally be able to breathe on her own.  They discussed the possibility of performing Airway Reconstruction Surgery.  But, now that plan is on hold because UNC Chapel Hill hospital doesn’t have enough available beds or staff.

“We really had our hopes pinned on being able to get this done, in part because of how much potential lies ahead for Emma,” says Stacy Staggs, Emma’s mother.

Across North Carolina, children 17 and under make up about 2 percent of newly admitted patients since August 20th.

Atrium Health says they’re monitoring their patient census making decisions to ensure safety and appropriate capacity.

Novant Health says they do not have plans to pause non emergent procedures or surgeries in Charlotte, but say they have done so in other markets.

Staggs says a new date for the surgery has been set for spring of 2022.