Children's Hospital Colorado helps Wyoming family connect virtually during pandemic

Amber Boisselle was taken by life flight to Denver to be evaluated for a few weeks, six months ago. Less than an hour after arriving, she had to have an emergency c-section.

Clara Boisselle was born four months early.

"Her and I almost both died and it was a miracle that both of us made it," said Amber Boisselle.

Clara spent five months in the neonatal intensive care unit. At month four, she was transferred from Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children's NICU to Children's Hospital Colorado's NICU for an eye surgery, only Children's Colorado had the ability to offer. The transfer came right as hospitals had begun putting safety protocols in place for the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I'm coming to a new place, I didn't have my support team. The NICU parents, moms and dads, we kind of gather together and befriend each other and help each other through this journey and we weren't allowed to do that," said Boisselle.

It had been more than a month since Boisselle had seen her family. Children's Hospital Colorado's Child Life team then asked if she would like to use their new telepresence OmniBot robot.

"This has been such a great opportunity to use these devices, to really connect patients and families when they can't physically be here," said CHC Gaming Technology Specialist, Abe Homer.

Boisselle's son Samuel, virtually walked into Children's and after a health screening and temperature check, walked through the doors of mom and Clara's room.

"It really felt like he was walking into the room and it just made me so happy, it was really awesome. It made everybody really happy and I think that we all just really enjoyed having that moment, that there's still good things happening," said Boisselle.

"I've seen plenty of families who are in really tough situations and just being able to do a robot visit has brightened their whole day. Not only are they able to connect with their families, it makes it a really memorable event for them." said Homer.

Clara is now at home in Cheyenne with her family and besides a little oxygen because of the elevation, she is healthy.