Woman Drives Cross Country to Deliver at Southeastern Med

Written by: Kelli Koch
Marketing/Communications Specialist
Southeastern Med
kjkoch@seormc.org

Akneca with her husband, Brian, and two daughters, Kennah, Brynlie.

CAMBRIDGE, Ohio, Jan. 25, 2011 – One of the first things women do when they find out they’re pregnant is find the right physician. For Akneca Brumfield, 30, of Plumas Lake, CA, finding the right physician wasn’t the problem – it was the 2,400 miles between them. Determined to get the best care, Akneca drove cross country while nine months pregnant to have Paul Wright, M.D., with OB/GYN Specialists of Southeastern Ohio, Inc., deliver her baby at Southeastern Med.

“When I made the decision everyone thought I was crazy, including my husband,” Akneca said. “But they were also very understanding and supportive of my decision to receive the best care. Dr. Wright delivered my first child in 2004, and I wanted him to deliver my second.”

In November 2008, Akneca and her husband, Brian, moved from Cambridge to Plumas Lake, CA, where Brian is stationed in the Air Force. Before moving, Akneca worked as a registered nurse in the Childbirth Center at Southeastern Med. “When you work in the area of labor and delivery, you know what you want and don’t want during childbirth,” she said. “The number one thing I wanted was quality care, and in California, I saw a different physician every time I went for a check up. I had no relationship with any of them, and I didn’t feel comfortable not knowing which physician would deliver me. I knew I would get the highest quality care from Dr. Wright and Southeastern Med. He was extremely understanding of the situation and worked with me to make sure he would be the one to deliver the baby.”

In August 2010, Akneca had her first appointment with Dr. Wright to schedule the inducement. “As a physician, of course I had many concerns about her driving cross country so close to her due date, but she was extremely determined,” said Dr. Wright. “She knew she could have the vaginal birth she wanted and receive quality care from the people she knows and trusts. It was nerve wracking when I knew she was on the road, but she has a lot of knowledge from working in the field. She knew when she would need to pull over and get to a hospital. In the end, it all worked out great. It was fun to see her back, and also a pleasure to deliver her.”

Prior to leaving, a physician in California examined her to make sure she was not dilated, and on Nov. 29, Akneca, along with her friend, Amanda Watson, who flew to California from Cambridge specifically for the cross-country journey, drove 2,400 miles for Dr. Wright to deliver Akneca’s child at Southeastern Med. “We made it to Ohio on time without any complications,” Akneca said. “My husband and daughter flew home to Cambridge on Dec. 3 for the birth of Brynlie on Dec. 6. She was a healthy 6 pound, 15 ounce baby. We couldn’t be happier.”

Although Akneca has travelled the farthest distance, she isn’t the only patient who has travelled to see Dr. Wright. He has had expectant mothers from Pittsburgh and Columbus make the trip back to Cambridge. “It’s wonderful to have patients come back to see me after they move to bigger cities,” Dr. Wright said.

If you’re currently searching for the right physician to deliver your child, call the office of Drs. Kevin Alten, Joseph Binkiewicz and Paul Wright, OB/GYN Specialists of Southeastern Ohio, Inc., at 740-439-9911.