Malone quadruplets born at Banner Good Samaritan

Quads are third from Georgia in past three years

Kelly Malone of Columbus, Ga., is introduced
to one of her four new sons following their
delivery at Banner Good Samaritan Medical
Center in Phoenix, Ariz. The infants are
being cared for by the Neonatal ICU staff at
Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Photo credit:
Dave Cruz for Banner Good Samaritan
Medical Center

PHOENIX (Aug. 20, 2007) – Georgia is on the mind at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center after the delivery of quadruplets from Columbus, Ga., this morning.

The babies were born between 10:01 a.m. and 10:04 a.m. to Kelly Malone and husband, Dr. Thomas Michael Malone, following a 34-week pregnancy.* The Malones are the third family from Georgia to deliver quadruplets at Banner Good Samaritan since 2005.

The four boys, dubbed “the Goodfellas” by their parents, had a total birthweight of 17 pounds, 12.8 ounces, according to Dr. John Elliott, Kelly’s perinatologist and an expert in the delivery of high-order multiples.

Kelly and Michael are the new parents of:
BABY BOY A, William Collier; 4 lbs, 9.2 oz; 10:01 a.m.
BABY BOY B, Sean Maddox; 4 lbs, 4.8 oz; 10:02 a.m.
BABY BOY C, Chase Alexander; 4 lbs, 15.0 oz; 10:03 a.m.
BABY BOY D, Dylan Patrick; 3 lbs, 15.8 oz; 10:04 a.m.

The Malones have one older son, Thomas Michael II, 3.

Following delivery, the infants are being cared for by Phoenix Children’s Hospital’s neonatology specialists. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), located inside Banner Good Samaritan, is operated by Phoenix Children’s Hospital. The connection between the two hospitals means mom can recover at Banner Good Sam, but remain only an elevator ride away from her babies.

Dr. Michael Malone of Columbus, Ga., looks
on at one of his four new sons. Photo credit:
Dave Cruz for Banner Good Samaritan
Medical Center

Dr. Malone is a practicing obstetrician/gynecologist in Columbus, as is his father. Clearly, much research and consideration went into the Malone’s plan of care for this high-risk pregnancy.

After choosing to deliver at Banner Good Samaritan, Kelly arrived in Arizona in May to be near her physicians. Unlike most multiple moms, Kelly was able to remain in the community until this past Saturday (33 weeks, 5 days) with frequent visits to the hospital and physician offices for IV therapy and careful monitoring of the babies’ growth and well-being.

Dr. Elliott, his colleagues at Phoenix Perinatal Associates and the nursing staffs at Banner Good Samaritan and Phoenix Children’s Hospital, have developed an international reputation for their care and management of women delivering high-order multiples (triplets or more). Banner Good Samaritan has delivered about 75 sets of quadruplets, six sets of quintuplets and two sets of sextuplets.

Most of the quadruplets and quintuplets delivered at Banner Good Samaritan – including the Roberts quadruplets of Savannah, Ga., born in November 2005 and the Brekken quadruplets of Savannah born in November 2006 – have come to Phoenix from another part of the country. This is thought to be more sets of high-order multiples than has been delivered at any other hospital in the U.S., and perhaps the world. Banner Good Samaritan is also a national referral center for many other kinds of high-risk obstetrical cases.

“These nationwide referrals say a lot for the reputation of perinatal and neonatal care provided by Banner Good Samaritan and Phoenix Children’s Hospital, and the physicians at Phoenix Perinatal Associates,” said Dr. Elliott. “We feel we have been very privileged to care for a number of mothers expecting quadruplets and other high-order multiples.”

Individuals wishing to send congratulations, prayers, e-mails and letters of support can contact the Malones through their website at http://www.malonequads.com/.

Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center has been providing medical care to Arizona and the Southwest since 1911. Banner Good Samaritan is owned and operated by Phoenix-based Banner Health, a not-for-profit organization, and is a flagship hospital within the system. The hospital was recently named to U.S.News & World Report’s “America’s Best Hospitals” list for Gynecology, Heart and Heart Surgery, Kidney Disease and Urology. Banner Good Samaritan has been recognized as a Magnet facility by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the highest honor a hospital can earn for its nursing care and practices.

* Thirty-eight to 40 weeks is considered full-term in a singleton pregnancy.

Contact:
Banner Good Samaritan Public Relations
(602) 239-4411