Couple shares child's birth in hospitals miles apart

(Sentinel photo by Amy Erickson) Joe and Melissa DeLashmutt experienced the first "virtual birth" when their son, Alex, was born three weeks ago at Floyd Valley Hospital, in Le Mars. Joe, who is battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia, is happy to be home with his family including 3-year-old son Austin. [Click to enlarge]

With the help of cameras, a laptop computer, television screen and an Internet connection, Joe, from his Sioux City hospital room, was able to at his wife Melissa's side -- in a virtual reality sense -- three weeks ago in Le Mars during their son, Alex's birth.

"I could hear everything. During the whole process I was able to talk to her and coach her through it. There was no delay," said Joe, who is battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML).

(Photo contributed) Joe DeLashmutt, was able to see and talk to his wife Melissa as she gave birth to their son, Alex, at Floyd Valley Hospital, in Le Mars, from his room at Mercy Medical Center, in Sioux City, with the help of cameras, headphones, a laptop computer and an Internet connection. Joe was hospitalized due to complications from Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. [Click to enlarge]

Seeing her husband on a television screen and talking to him via a camera made Melissa a little nervous, but she soon appreciated his "presence."

"I felt weirded out at first," Melissa said. "But it's the next best thing to him being there."

The "virtual birth" was made possible by cooperation between Mercy's desktop services and FVH's technology and plant operations' personnel.

Lori Conley, Mercy's desktop and network services team leader, said the hospital used its guest Internet services to establish a connection with FVH's equipment.

"It was pretty much like a phone call," Conley said. "Here (Joe) had a camera and headset so he could see and talk with his wife."

Cherie Varenhorst, FVH's obstetrics supervisor, said the hospital's technology and plant operations personnel wired Melissa's room and brought in the necessary equipment.

"They set everything up and showed the nurse who was going to be working how to run the TV and the camera so she felt comfortable with that," Varenhorst said.

Dr. Sheila Holcomb, Melissa's doctor, set the wheels in motion to find out if something could be set up so Joe could watch the birth.

"Joe and Melissa have been through a lot," Holcomb said. "Joe had been so sick we knew that he wasn't going to be able to be present."

Even before being admitted to Mercy because of blood clots in his lungs, Joe had been hospitalized at University of Nebraska Medical Center, in Omaha, due to his AML.

The "virtual birth" experience was a positive one for the couple, Holcomb said.

"Joe was helping to coach Melissa. It was like having Joe in the room," she said. "I was glad he was there for the birth."

Joe, a retired Army sergeant, was diagnosed with AML in April 2006 while serving in Iraq.

Since then, he had a bone marrow transplant in July 2006 and a stem cell transplant in 2007.

His sister was the donor both times, Joe said.

"My body wasn't quite strong enough so it didn't take hold," he said.

Now he needs another transplant but doctors are still deciding whether it should be bone marrow or stem cell.

Currently he is undergoing chemotherapy, Joe said.

At the same time, he's enjoying time with Melissa, Alex and 3-year-old Austin.

Joe's thankful for having been able to see the birth of his son, he said.

"It was offered to me, for me," he said. "It was nice to have people out there looking out for me, willing to help."