Donor Profile: the Bergman Family

A Harrowing Birth, Successful Surgery, and Trusted Care: Meet the Bergman’s

Leslie and Rob Bergman lived just outside of Los Angeles when they welcomed their oldest daughters, Zella and Iris, into the world. While they enjoyed the continuous warm sunshine, they did not like the constant traffic congestion and the challenges it brought to their day-to-day lives.

When Leslie was 29 weeks pregnant with Zella, she went into preterm labor. Rob battled 25 miles of highway traffic to get her to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center so Zella could be delivered safely. “It was traumatic during this emergency to be so far from our hospital,” explains Leslie. Zella arrived safe and sound, but they will never forget the stressful and frightening experience.

Personalized Care Close to Home
When Faye, their youngest daughter was born, the Bergman family lived in Concord, Massachusetts. Her arrival was much different. As Rob and Leslie reflect, “Within ten minutes, we arrived at Emerson from our home. That easy access is very important to us.” They describe Faye’s birth as genuine and professional. “The nurse lowered the lights just before she was born. It created a warm, intimate setting. Her delivery was more personal and caring than you usually receive at a big city hospital. It could not have gone better.”

With three active daughters, the Bergman’s relied on Emerson often for emergency and routine care. “Every time we visited the Emergency Department, we received a teddy bear hand-made by Emerson’s Auxiliary. This soothing gift provided a lasting reminder of Emerson’s compassion,” Leslie says.

Proven Again and Again
Now their daughters are grown, but Leslie and Rob still live in Concord and depend on Emerson for a wide array of health needs, including a hernia, tonsillectomy, and colon surgery with a six-night hospital stay to treat complex diverticulitis.

“You want to have confidence in your local hospital and choose to use it when needed. We trust Emerson as the premier place to go for care at every age. Emerson has proven this to our family time and again, over and over, meeting all our needs – and then some,” the couple shares.

Investors in Transforming Health

Why did Leslie and Rob invest in the Transforming Health campaign? “Emerson is part of the community and what makes the area a special place to live. We are very fortunate to have a hospital nearby that we are proud of. Updating the facilities will ensure that Emerson remains the world-class health system it is – to protect the community’s well-being now and for future generations,” they explain.