Finding Hope Again: Amber Sullivan’s Journey through Loss, Healing and Motherhood at Lakeside Hospital

In celebration of National Women’s Health Month in May, Lakeside Hospital is encouraging women to prioritize their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Amber Sullivan, 32, has experienced both the lowest of healthcare lows and the highest of highs with Amy Grace, MD, an OB/GYN at Lakeside Hospital, by her side. 

When Amber Sullivan found out she was pregnant in 2023, she and her husband Zach, now 30, were excited to begin the next chapter of their lives together. The couple had recently married and dreamed of building a large family. 

At first, everything was going well with the pregnancy. But, at 13 weeks, just before Mother’s Day, Amber experienced a miscarriage. She said her world felt like it had fallen apart. “The only positive was my physician, Dr. Grace. My husband and I couldn’t have asked for a more compassionate care team when we needed it most,” Amber said. 

During one of the most difficult moments of her life, Amber said the care team at Lakeside helped her feel supported, informed, and cared for as a person, not just a patient. She credits Dr. Grace and her nurse, Chantelle, with helping her navigate both the emotional and medical challenges that followed. 

“I didn’t feel like the clock was running out when I was there. She always made time for me. I didn’t feel like a number,” Amber said. “And, when I lost the baby, they didn’t make me feel like I did something wrong. Instead, they made me feel like I was a woman who had something go wrong. I wasn’t at fault. And that helped me heal.” 

Amber said Dr. Grace carefully explained what had happened and answered questions honestly and compassionately. Pathology testing later showed the couple had lost a baby boy, whom they lovingly refer to as “our little angel.” 

Keeping a watchful eye 

Following her miscarriage in 2023, Amber and Zach hoped to grow their family again as soon as they were medically able. Before long, they received exciting news — Amber was pregnant again. 

Amber said Dr. Grace walked by her side every step of the full-term pregnancy. Although the pregnancy was considered low risk, meaning there were no major medical complications expected, Amber admitted she carried anxiety after her previous loss. 

“At around 10 weeks, I had some bleeding and I was in a panic,” she said. “Dr. Grace brought me in that day and did an ultrasound.” The scan confirmed that everything was progressing normally. 

For Amber, those moments of reassurance made all the difference. “Dr. Grace made getting pregnant again not scary,” Amber said. “If I had questions or concerns, she and her nurse were always responsive and always checking on me.” 

Looking back now, Amber says she believes things worked out exactly the way they were meant to. 

Welcoming Jack Emerson 

Amber delivered her son, Jack Emerson, by Cesarean section, on July 9, 2024. Today, Jack is a healthy, energetic toddler who keeps his parents smiling. 

“He’s full of life,” Amber said. “He loves to dance, color, and be outside. He loves blowing kisses. Honestly, Jack is a dream baby and I feel so lucky.” 

Amber believes the compassion and personal attention she received throughout her care journey at Lakeside Hospital helped her regain confidence and joy after loss. 

“It’s overwhelming how great the experience was for me,” she said. 

Expanding women and newborn care 

For families like the Sullivans, the focus on compassionate, personalized care is what stands out most. 

“When this all happened, my husband and I felt like we had people who were going to work through it with us,” Amber said. “They made me feel like I had known them forever.” 

Amber’s experience reflects Lakeside Hospital’s continued investment in personalized women’s healthcare and maternity services. The hospital is currently undergoing a major expansion of its Women and Newborn Care services through a $14 million investment by LCMC Health.  

The project will transform Lakeside Hospital into a premier, centralized hub for women and newborn care on the East Bank of Jefferson Parish by consolidating maternity services currently offered at East Jefferson General Hospital and Lakeside Hospital into one location. The project will create a modernized, boutique-style birthing environment with expanded labor and delivery suites, enhanced postpartum rooms and a 26-bed Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). 

Moreover, the initiative will strengthen  academic training with Tulane University and Louisiana State University. 

With more than 2,000 babies delivered annually between the two campuses, this transformation will serve thousands of families each year in Jefferson Parish and surrounding communities. The Women and Newborn Care Center at Lakeside Hospital is set to open during the first quarter of 2027. 

For more information about Women’s Health Services at Lakeside Hospital, please visit: https://www.lcmchealth.org/lakeside-hospital/our-services/womens-health/ .