One Year Later: Miracle Coronavirus Baby Celebrates 1st Birthday

BAY SHORE, NY — Last year was a memorable time for Yanira Soriano. New York was in the very beginning of the coronavirus pandemic as hundreds were being diagnosed with COVID-19, and Soriano was one of those patients.

She was hospitalized at Southside Hospital in Bay Shore with the virus, however her case was unique because she was 34-weeks pregnant.

The Brentwood resident was placed on a ventilator and underwent an emergency cesarean section which luckily was successful. Afterward, she had to spend two weeks in the ICU until she was finally able to meet her newborn son, Walter, for the first time as she left the hospital.

"When Ms. Soriano was in the ICU, I whispered in her ear and said she was not allowed to die," Denise Mannino, RN, said. "She was on a ventilator, really sick, and essentially died twice – it is truly a miracle we are seeing the family together now."

Now, a year after that event, Soriano and her family celebrated baby Walter's first birthday during a special celebration at South Shore University.

"A year ago, I was so sick, I didn’t even know I had baby Walter," Soriano told the gathered crowd through an interpreter. "I am so thankful and grateful to the team at South Shore University hospital for bringing me back to life so I could be here to celebrate my baby’s birthday today."

The special Paw Patrol theme event was held tent at the hospital and was attended by the local doctors and nurses who treated Soriano, the hospital’s administrative staff, and a special guest of honor, Chase from Paw Patrol.

"It was nice to see such a happy ending to this story," Donna Moravick, NP, executive director of South Shore University Hospital said. "After being on a ventilator for 11 days, it was really encouraging at the time to see Ms. Soriano and baby Walter survive and thrive. I wish them nothing but a lifetime of happiness."