Photo: Arthur and Angel Lam bring home baby Alfred after 25 days in the CPMC NICU (July 2025)

No one imagines their pregnancy will end in the neonatal intensive care unit. But for Bay Area parents Arthur and Angel Lam, what began as a season of heartbreak and fear transformed into one of gratitude and hope, thanks to the extraordinary care at Sutter CPMC’s Deikel Family NICU in San Francisco.

After experiencing two miscarriages, the couple entered this pregnancy with a mix of cautious optimism and quiet fear. But at 34 weeks, those fears came rushing back. Complications led to an unexpected hospital admission and the realization that their baby would be born prematurely.

“We were completely stressed and our vision for a perfect little family was muddy,” said Lam. “My wife kept asking herself, ‘Why us?’ After having two miscarriages and checking into Antepartum, I didn’t have an answer.”

What the family did find, within the walls of CPMC, was unwavering compassion, skill and encouragement from every care team they encountered.

“It was the team of nurses from Antepartum, Labor & Delivery, Postpartum, and, most importantly, the NICU team that gave us hope, kept our spirits up, and helped us get through this difficult journey,” said Lam. “We are forever grateful for the warmth and care the NICU nurses provided.”

Their new baby boy, who they named Alfred, spent 25 days in the NICU, an experience the family described as “better than the Ritz-Carlton,” thanks to the first-class attention and personal connection they felt throughout their stay.

“Although the last 25 days have been difficult for us, we will continue to spread our experiences at your hospital to anybody who will listen,” he added. “This was truly a first-class service.”

Today, the family is back home, holding Alfred close and remembering every nurse and staff member who stood by them when their world felt most uncertain.

Did you know? More than 26,000 babies are born each year across Sutter’s 16 award-winning birth centers.

“We are privileged to walk alongside families like the Lams during such challenging and fragile times,” said Dr. Claudia Mueller, pediatric surgeon and chair of CPMC’s Pediatrics Department. “At CPMC, what distinguishes our care is the close collaboration between our dedicated nurses, doctors and specialists across every stage. This coordinated, compassionate approach helps ensure families receive not only expert medical care but also the emotional support that makes all the difference. It’s this combination that helps families find hope and resilience throughout their journey.”

Across Sutter Health, moms and babies are supported by a connected network of compassionate OB, Labor and Delivery, and NICU teams who work together to provide seamless, personalized care. Whether navigating a high-risk pregnancy, welcoming a baby early or simply needing reassurance along the way, Sutter’s integrated system helps families feel safe, seen and supported across every step of the journey.

Sutter’s CPMC offers families a Level III NICU and a full spectrum of advanced maternal and newborn care for even the most complex cases. Each year, the unit hosts a special NICU reunion where families return to reconnect with the doctors and nurses who cared for them during a critical time in their lives.

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