Rockville Centre rallies around mother and infant

Rockville Centre mom Marissa Heitshusen was awaiting the arrival of her newborn son, Christopher “Kip” Welles, when she unexpectedly went into labor in December — 14 weeks before he was due.

Kip continues to fight and for the last eight weeks, he has been working to grow stronger every day while in the expert care of North Shore University Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit. Heitshusen and her family wait anxiously for the opportunity to finally bring him home.

Both mother and her son required lifesaving blood transfusions due to the emergency delivery. Kip’s transfusion was immediately administered, however, after a difficult delivery, Heitshusen was told she would have to wait until more was available due to an emergency blood shortage affecting millions of residents throughout the New York Metropolitan area.

As a result of the shortage, the New York Blood Center, one of the largest community-based nonprofit blood collection and distribution organizations in the country, is currently experiencing an urgent need for donations.

“Every two seconds, someone in our country needs blood,” Dr. Cara Pessel, a fellow Rockville Centre parent and an OB/GYN specialist who assisted with Kip’s delivery, said. “Excess maternal bleeding at delivery and neonatal complications of prematurity are two of the leading reasons for blood transfusions in our world of Obstetrics.”

Preterm births, like Kip’s, are not uncommon and affect approximately one in every 10 newborns in the United States, underscoring the significance of blood donations in supporting premature infants and their mothers. According to the March of Dimes, approximately 380,548 babies were born preterm in 2022, representing 10.4 percent of all live births in the country that year.

Heitshusen is a real estate agent and digital brand consultant who lives in the village with her husband, Chris, and her two other children. Her daughter, Charlotte, is a student at Jennie E. Hewitt Elementary School and her son, Weston, is currently enrolled at The Learning Academy of St. Marks on Hempstead Avenue.

To spread awareness of the need for blood during childbirth, she enlisted the help of members of the community and the New York Blood Center, to organize a blood drive March 10 at the John A. Anderson Recreation Center in Rockville Centre.

“We wanted to create awareness of the need for blood during childbirth,” Heitshusen said, “and what a mom and baby might need in the event of early emergent deliveries.”

Dr. Pessel said that while it is unfortunate that Heitshusen experienced this critical blood shortage firsthand, the fact that she can turn this physical and emotional struggle into an opportunity to raise awareness and help save lives is “truly selfless and inspirational.”

“Marissa and Kip are two of the strongest people I know,” Dr. Pessel said. “I am so proud to live in this community where we can come together and make a difference, and I hope to see a huge turnout at the Rec. Center for the blood drive.”

Heitshusen has been very busy with Kip, but has received so much love from the community. “The entire community is rallying around him and us and we’re so thankful,” she said.

Heitshusen’s friend, Michelle Foley, has also been instrumental in helping coordinate the blood drive with the New York Blood Center. “Her story hit me hard,” Foley said. “So many people are pulling together to help.”

In addition to the help and support of Foley and Dr. Pessel, several members of the community are rallying support for Heitshusen and the family, including The Learning Academy and the Children’s Athletic Training School on Maple Avenue. 

“I reached out to [Marissa] once I read her story,” CATS Owner Jami Madison said. “I figured that we could help out in some way.”

Madison said Charlotte takes tennis lessons on the weekends and Weston has been in an afterschool program at CATS for the last two years. As a family friend, she reached out on social media wanting to help the family by encouraging others, including Molloy University athletes to donate and spread the word about this local cause. She also said that she is planning to hold a raffle to help encourage people to sign up and give blood.

“The Heitshusen family has been a part of The Learning Academy of St. Mark’s family for a few years now,” TLA Director Mordan Moccia said. “They are always filled with smiles and excitement, so when we heard about Kip, we wanted to help in any way possible. It’s our blessing to be able to spread awareness for the Heitshusens and any other family in a similar circumstance. TLA is eager to help in anyway we can, including donating blood and continued love and prayers for Kip and his family.”

The New York Blood Center said donations of whole blood, red blood cells, platelets or plasma, can help save up to three lives in one hour. Unfortunately, the supply of blood seldom meets the demand. While 62 percent of the country’s population is eligible to donate, only about 3 percent will give blood every year.

In order to donate you must be at least 17 or older, or 16 with a parent or guardian’s written consent and weigh at least 110 lbs. It also recommended donors be in good health when giving blood. Anyone who wishes to participate should be sure to eat and drink prior to the event and bring either a donor ID card or a valid New York State Driver’s License.

The blood drive is Sunday, March 10 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the auditorium at the John A. Anderson Recreation Center, 111 N. Oceanside Road in Rockville Centre. Contact the New York Blood Center to make an appointment.

For more information visit NYBC.org.