Samir Salaam Jennings-Bey

When Najah Salaam Jennings-Bey learned seven and a half weeks before her due date that she would need an emergency cesarean section, she was terrified.

But on a Friday at 2:16 p.m., Samir Salaam Jennings-Bey entered the world, weighing just 3 lbs. 10 oz.

Tim “Noble” Jennings-Bey, Samir’s father, remembers that the nurses were wonderful and that they helped create a family atmosphere.

“The staff were such a big part of the process and were very happy for us,” he says. “You know when people are sincere, and you could feel the sincerity in the room while Samir’s birth was occurring.”

Najah credits Crouse Hospital’s personnel for saving her baby’s life — from the staff and nurses in labor and delivery to the doctors and nurses in the Baker NICU. The hospital was not only well equipped to handle emergency situations, but, she said, the staff was compassionate.

Najah explained “there is no one in particular whom I could single out because as a whole they did such a wonderful job in making sure that that level of compassion was felt.”

Leaving a child behind in the NICU each night leaves many parents with uneasiness and anxiety, but Tim and Najah knew that Samir would receive the best care possible from the Crouse team.

Looking at his son, Tim explained, “It was the environment at Crouse, the professionalism of the nurses and physicians, coupled with our faith, that helped him pull through.”

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