[ad_1]
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A mother is suing Novant Health and local doctors after she says serious mistakes left her wondering if the child she buried was actually her daughter, WCNC reports.
LaChunda Hunter says she didn’t think she could have children, but that all changed in September 2021. She learned she was pregnant with her miracle baby girl.
Hunter had to be admitted to the hospital early because she showed signs of high blood pressure. Legacy was born Feb. 13, 2022, at 23 weeks via a C-section at Novant Presbyterian Medical Center.
“She was thriving, they thought the worst, but she did well,” Hunter said.
Three days later, Hunter was released from the hospital while Legacy was in the NICU.
“Feb. 19, I went to see her that morning and I also got a message from the nurse to say she was doing well,” Hunter said.
However, that night, Hunter received a devastating phone call, telling her Legacy had passed away. Hunter went to the hospital the next day. According to a complaint, she says she was led into a room she described as a storage closet.
“They brought me a baby wrapped in a whole bunch of blankets,” she said. “I don’t know what the baby looked like because it was so dark.”
Hunter moved forward with funeral arrangements, but a few days later, got a call she never expected. A doctor was on the other line, saying he felt good about her daughter’s progress.
“He told me who he was and then told me how well Legacy was doing, everything that was wrong with her was turning around and that he was optimistic,” Hunter explained.
Hunter listened in shock. Her assistant, who was there, explained to the doctor that Hunter was told her baby died. Hunter says that’s when the doctor hung up.
Later that day, Hunter says she got a call from another doctor claiming there was a mix-up. The call she got earlier was regarding another baby and her phone number had accidentally been in that chart.
Hunter wanted the case investigated by Novant. She also requested to see her baby’s medical records and wanted to physically see the baby whose results were initially reported.
The lawsuit claims Novant officials wouldn’t meet with Hunter to explain what happened. Leaving Hunter more confused were discrepancies in the Legacy’s medical chart, including updates saying she had tubes removed days after she had died.
“I don’t want any mother to feel this,” she said. “I don’t want any mother to go through what I’m going through.”
The baby was moved to the funeral home on Feb. 20. Before the funeral, Hunter requested a private DNA test as she believed the child who was at the funeral home looked different and older than Legacy, even believing it was a boy.
“This baby doesn’t even look the same as my daughter. My daughter had clear marks on her forehead from skin and bruising. This baby does not have any marks, no sores anything,” Hunter said on Thursday.
The DNA test came back inconclusive. Hunter says a second one was requested by Novant. Those results showed the baby was hers. However, Hunter says she doesn’t believe a second sample was taken because she never signed for it.
Hunter eventually buried the baby, even though she still doesn’t believe it was her daughter. She is suing the hospital for negligence, emotional and financial distress.
“Every milestone that mothers get to experience, I have missed,” Hunter said. “She is the only child I would have physically had and I just want my daughter. I just want to know what happened.”
WCNC Charlotte reached out to Novant Health for comment on Hunter’s claims. They emailed us back a statement saying, “We value the trust families place in us, and while privacy laws prevent us from commenting on individual circumstances, we take all concerns seriously. As caregivers, we guide people through profound moments of joy and loss, and we carry a deep understanding of the complexity of grief. As a result, our care teams are wholly committed to surrounding all families with compassionate care, respect, and support.”
Contact Jesse Pierre at jpierrepet@wcnc.com or follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
[ad_2]
