Over the course of the three long months after giving birth, Paola Gambini was only able to hold her baby twice. Each day apart was a quiet struggle, filled with longing and hope.
As her due date approached in late July, Paola contracted COVID-19. By July 29, she realized she was having serious trouble breathing. Her fiancé, Michael Hazen, immediately called 911—an action that would prove to be lifesaving.
“I remember the EMT saying, ‘You’re so lucky you called us. I don’t know that you would have made it,’” Paola recalled, still shaking her head at how close the danger had been.
At Orlando Health’s Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies, doctors quickly determined that Paola needed an emergency C-section. On July 30, she and Michael welcomed their daughter, Lilliana, into the world. In a beautiful coincidence, it was also Michael’s birthday.
“She was the best birthday present ever,” Michael said, his eyes lighting up at the memory.
Though Lilliana arrived safe and healthy, Paola’s journey was far from over. She spent 85 days in Orlando Health’s Regional Medical Center, including two weeks on a ventilator. Each day was a battle, but she fought with incredible strength.
Over a month after giving birth, Paola finally got to see Lilliana again when the hospital allowed Michael to bring their baby in for a visit.
“I remember waking up, and they sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to me. My room was decorated with balloons, and they asked if I was ready to see my baby,” Paola said, tears welling in her eyes.
When she finally held Lilliana, Paola’s arms were still weak from her illness. “They let me hold her, but I was so weak, I didn’t want to drop her. My arms could barely support her,” she said.
Slowly but steadily, Paola continued to regain her strength. On October 22, she was able to go home and continue her recovery. The moment she entered her home and was reunited with her parents, her mother brought Lilliana to her, and no one could hold back their tears.
Paola still participates in outpatient rehab to ensure a full recovery, but the joy of being together as a family is immeasurable. Every smile, every hug, every tiny milestone is celebrated.
After months of fear, uncertainty, and separation, Paola, Michael, and Lilliana are finally together—and their story is a powerful reminder of hope, resilience, and love.
