Mother Reunites with Newborn Baby after Fighting COVID for 85 Days: 'God Brought Me Back to Her'

After eighty-five days at the hospital, a Florida woman beat COVID-19 and emerged without complications, finally fit to unite with her new baby.

The last three months have been a tough ride for Orlando mom Paula Gambini, who spent the third quarter of 2021 on admission at the Intensive Care Unit of Orlando Health’s Regional Medical Center.

Her woes began on July 29, during the last phase of her pregnancy. The woman suddenly began having difficulty breathing, forcing her fiance, Michael Hazen, to call 911.

She was transported to Orlando Health’s Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies. The next day, Gambini underwent an emergency C-section to deliver her baby girl Lilliana Hazen, born the same day as her dad.

The child’s birth was induced to ensure she developed no complications from her mom’s COVID-19 diagnosis. Once her daughter arrived, the new mom was transported to Orlando Health’s Regional Medical Center.

She spent the next 85 days fighting for her life with the aid of ventilator support, ECMO, and other forms of treatment administered by the medical experts.

On September 3, one month into her treatment, the mom saw her daughter for the first time since the beginning of her coronavirus battle. After the visit, the mom felt better, receiving the strength she needed to keep pushing.

For the first time in weeks, the woman was able to go outside for some fresh air. Thereafter, she continued her treatment with ease, all the while staying in touch with her partner and baby via FaceTime.

On October 22, Gambini made a complete recovery and successfully crossed the finish line banner at the Orlando hospital’s rehabilitation center, using a walker.

The survivor earned not only the gold medal and applause from those standing in wait but also the warm welcome of her daughter, who she finally reunited with.

Gambini’s COVID-19 journey was not as straightforward as the emotional account. The family admittedly faced several close calls and death scares during her battle, almost causing them to lose hope. Gambini recounted:

“There were rough patches. There were times they told Michael I might not make it, and he was like, ‘She’s coming home.’ I did everything to have our baby. God brought me back to her.”

With mother and daughter finally reunited, Gambini is more equipped to complete the remaining phase of her outpatient rehabilitation and recovery, with her family backing her.