Reunited after 57 years: he was an intern, she was a preemie not expected to survive
Dr. Donald Craig’s Incredible Journey: From Delivering a Stillborn to Reuniting with the Baby He Saved
Dr. Donald Craig, a young intern at the old General Hospital in Saint John, found himself facing a daunting task on a snowy night in January 1968. A doctor approached him for help in delivering a baby at nearby St. Joseph’s Hospital, while a woman at the General was also in labor with a three-month premature baby expected to be stillborn.
Despite his limited experience, Dr. Craig stepped up to the challenge. Armed with a book on human labor, he quickly reviewed the necessary information. When he learned that the baby was breech, he went back to his book to ensure he was prepared for the unusual delivery. As the situation escalated, a nurse hurried him to the delivery room, where he successfully delivered the baby, much to everyone’s surprise, it was alive.
The baby, named Krista Barczyk, weighed only two pounds and faced grim odds of survival. However, with the timely arrival of a pediatrician specializing in premature births, the baby’s chances improved significantly. Dr. Craig credits the pediatrician’s expertise for ensuring the baby’s survival during her month-long stay in the hospital.
Decades later, at an awards gala by the New Brunswick Medical Education Foundation, Dr. Craig was surprised by a reunion with Krista, now a grown woman. The emotional moment highlighted the profound impact of his actions on her life and the lives of her children and grandchildren.
Krista’s mother, Dorothy Fillmore, also expressed her gratitude for Dr. Craig’s role in saving her daughter’s life, recalling the mix of joy and fear she felt upon hearing her baby’s cry in the delivery room.
The heartwarming reunion was orchestrated by Alyssa Long, the foundation’s executive director, who was deeply moved by Dr. Craig’s story. After months of searching, Krista was located and brought to the event, where tears flowed freely as the audience witnessed the emotional reunion.
As Dr. Craig and Krista reminisced over baby pictures from that fateful night in 1968, they shared laughter and tears, reflecting on the incredible journey that had brought them together once again. The reunion served as a reminder of the lasting impact of a single act of kindness and expertise in the field of medicine.
Dr. Donald Craig’s story is a testament to the dedication and compassion of healthcare professionals, whose actions can change lives in ways they never imagined. The miraculous reunion between doctor and patient is a reminder of the profound connections forged in moments of crisis and the enduring impact of a single act of care and expertise.
