Grateful Patient: The Gift of Personalized Care at Adirondack Health

Lila's Grateful Patient Story

When Lila and her family made their home in the North Country, she never imagined how important her local hospital would become to her growing family. As a large animal veterinarian, she knew the challenges of working in rural areas and she understood firsthand how critical it is to have skilled, compassionate care close to home.

When she was expecting her son, Lila chose Adirondack Health because of the personal, attentive care she knew she could find in a smaller hospital setting.

From the very beginning, she felt supported and heard. “I really felt like everyone listened and did their best by me,” she shared. Together with Dr. Eve Burns, she created a plan for a scheduled cesarean that reflected her hopes for the experience. To make that possible, her doctor even rearranged her schedule so Lila could be the only planned surgery that day, ensuring the team could give her their full attention.

The result was a birth experience filled with compassion and calm. With her chosen playlist playing in the background, every member of the team explained each step along the way, offering the clear communication she valued most. When her son was born, nurses helped him begin nursing right away and supported Lila in keeping him by her side throughout recovery.

“The nurses were incredible,” she recalled. “They really read the room, helped me feel calm, and went out of their way to make sure I had the experience I hoped for.” She remembers one nurse, Sarah, chatting with her about her own animals just before surgery, a small but meaningful moment that eased her nerves.

Lila and her family recovered in a room overlooking the lake, where she had time to soak in the peace of the moment. She felt the benefits of being in a smaller hospital, where tailored care and a sense of calm surrounded her family.

Looking back, she describes her son’s birth as great experience. “It really was a team effort. I felt heard and seen and so grateful to have this level of care available in our community.”

For families across the Adirondacks, having obstetric care close to home brings comfort and peace of mind. For Lila, it meant a birth experience she looks back on with deep gratitude.