Family relies on Geisinger spiritual care for safe baptism of newborn
The couple’s son, Greyson, was diagnosed with bilateral multicystic dysplastic kidneys at 16 weeks. The condition meant his kidneys meant weren’t producing the fluid needed to help his lungs grow in utero. The expectation was that he wouldn’t survive.
“They expected that he would need to go right on life support and a ventilator, but he didn’t need any of it,” Greenawalt said. “His lungs were developed, and he was crying at birth.”
Still, Greyson, who was born with poorly functioning kidneys and faced chronic renal failure, needed a great deal of care.
Turning to NICU Chaplain the Rev. Kay Korpics, the family asked for help with a baptism that would include their family pastor. However, visitation restrictions related to the pandemic meant the pastor couldn’t enter the unit. The spiritual team at Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital used technology, teamwork and creativity to find a safe way to conduct the ceremony.
The family’s pastor performed the blessing over a Zoom video call, while Rev. Korpics performed the ritual. Other members of the care team took photos and decorated the area of the NICU while Greyson’s nurse made sure he remained medically stable.
After a 24-day NICU stay, Greyson was finally able to go home on May 15.
“Our faith is very important to us,” Greenawalt said. “Every prayer helped. I prayed every day, several times a day,” Amanda said. “I have a strong support system through the church praying for us and the baby. I believe if it weren’t for those prayers and the excellent care in the NICU, Greyson would have never made it.”
About Geisinger
Geisinger is among the nation’s leading providers of value-based care, serving 1.2 million people in urban and rural communities across Pennsylvania. Founded in 1915 by philanthropist Abigail Geisinger, the non-profit system generates $10 billion in annual revenues across 134 care sites - including 10 hospital campuses, and Geisinger Health Plan, with 600,000 members in commercial and government plans. The Geisinger College of Health Sciences educates more than 5,000 medical professionals annually and conducts more than 1,400 clinical research studies. With 26,000 employees, including 1,600 employed physicians, Geisinger is among Pennsylvania’s largest employers with an estimated economic impact of $14 billion to the state’s economy. On March 31, 2024, Geisinger became the first member of Risant Health, a new nonprofit charitable organization created to expand and accelerate value-based care across the country. Learn more at geisinger.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.
