YOUR MIND
“ Many of my life ’ s most important events have been shaped by the philanthropic gifts of Irwin and Joan Jacobs … I don ’ t think they could imagine how much they ’ ve touched my life .”
IT WAS MARCH 2021 when my wife went into early labor with our third child . Our son , Niels Daniel , was born at only 26 weeks .
We had already been in the hospital for several months , starting in January 2021 , due to early pregnancy complications . This wasn ’ t our first stay at the Jacobs Medical Center at UC San Diego Health . Our first child was born shortly after the hospital grand opening in 2016 . We were also patients in the NICU with our second child due to minor respiratory issues . But this time was different . The whole world was locked down because of the COVID-19 pandemic . My wife and I spent those weeks together in our hospital room — overlooking the nearby UCSD campus — and prayed for the healthy continuation of the pregnancy .
When Niels was born , he was only 2.2 pounds , just less than a kilogram . Yet he proved to be stronger than anyone imagined . Due to his premature birth , Niels had severe respiratory complications involving chest tubes and a high frequency respirator . He also suffered from collapsed lungs , an intestinal perforation , a brain hemorrhage , jaundice , and a blood infection . My wife was unable to hold him for several weeks due to the many wires , tubes and medical devices used to keep him stable . The first time she held Niels was on Easter Sunday and also my birthday — a gift for us all from God . The challenges ahead were great , but with a treatment plan in place , we planned for an extended stay at the hospital . But with the help of the Jacobs Medical team , and the resilience of our son , we were released earlier than expected . Niels left the hospital after 114 days … a month after his original due date .
The incredible care my family received at the Jacobs Medical Center was not the first time I had benefited from the generosity of Irwin and Joan Jacobs .
After graduating with a dual degree in electrical engineering and materials science and engineering from UC Davis in 2002 , I was hired as a civilian with the U . S . Navy at China Lake , Calif . as a materials failure analysis engineer . Because of my appetite for research , colleagues suggested I go back to school for my PhD . In 2005 , I applied to only one school : UC San Diego . It was a natural choice — my wife ’ s family is from San Diego and I knew we would need the extra support while I was back in graduate school . Not only was I accepted into UCSD , but I was also awarded a Jacobs Fellowship . My family and I are here in San Diego because of the generosity of the Jacobs family . I don ’ t think they could ever imagine how much they ’ ve touched my life . They have helped further my education , my livelihood , and most importantly , provided a safe and state-of-the-art facility for the birth of my children .
My son Niels is now 14 months and every day I look at him — I ’ m grateful . Although we spent over half of the year in the hospital unsure of what was to come next , there is no better feeling than knowing our family is together , at last .
— Aaron Sathrum , MS ’ 06 , PhD ’ 11 is a senior materials engineer at General Atomics .
TRITONMAG . COM 51