Reprinted with permission by: Stephanie Beougher, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
In just a matter of a few hours in one day, Ohio Army National Guard first Lieutenant Sara Stigler reached three major milestones in her life – she graduated from college, gave birth to her first child, and was sworn in as a field surgeon – all while wearing a hospital gown. “It is definitely a day I will never forget,” said Stigler.
It all started on a Friday night, on May 18, when Stigler went into labor with her first child. She texted her administrative officer, Captain Amanda Harder of the Ohio Army National Guard Medical Detachment, based in Columbus, OH, “Definitely not coming to drill… my water just broke, and we’re at the hospital now.”
“For her to contact me while she was in labor says a lot about her character as a citizen and soldier,” said Harder. “By keeping her first line leader and unit informed, it showed me her loyalty to her duties as a soldier.”
In addition to drill that weekend, Stigler was also scheduled to graduate on May 19 from the University of Cincinnati’s College of Medicine. Instead of wearing a cap and gown, she was at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati wearing a hospital gown.
At 3:14 a.m. on Saturday, just hours before her scheduled graduation, Stigler and her husband Curtis Maples welcomed their son Blaise Carver Maples, named after French inventor and mathematician Blaise Pascal and American inventor and botanist George Washington Carver.
Although graduation went on without her, she was more excited to welcome her son into the world. “Honestly, I wasn’t that disappointed to miss graduation. The thought of sitting through a long ceremony at nine months pregnant was not really appealing, and Blaise was a great graduation gift,” Stigler said.
While being in the Ohio National Guard, Stigler has also been participating as a medical student in the residency program at the Ohio Army National Guard Medical Detachment. This opportunity has allowed her to learn more about being a soldier as well as a medical professional. She was matched with Steve Ulrich, MD, a family physician and retired colonel in the Ohio Army National Guard, who has served as her mentor throughout her entire journey in medical school and the National Guard.
Dr. Ulrich and his wife made the trip to Cincinnati, from their home in Perry County, to attend Stigler’s graduation. They happily switched plans to visit the new mom and her baby in the hospital. Dr. Ulrich suggested that while he was there, he could swear her in as a field surgeon. So, just four hours after giving birth and still wearing a hospital gown, Stigler raised her right hand and took the oath while her husband; Dr. Ulrich’s wife, Terri; and three hospital security guards looked on as witnesses.
“It was a very special moment,” recalled Dr. Ulrich. “It is the unique blend of military tradition, adaptation to circumstance, and flexibility. My wife and I were honored to be a part of the day and help a family of the National Guard celebrate both accomplishments.”
At first, Stigler said, she was a little embarrassed, “Because, let’s be real, you don’t feel beautiful just a few hours after giving birth.” When she saw how excited everyone was, and with her newborn son in the room, it no longer bothered her.
Starting this fall, Stigler will be a resident at the Christ Hospital Family Medicine Residency program in Cincinnati, while juggling the newfound duties of parenthood and being a field surgeon. She acknowledges that it will be the support of her husband and a great network of friends that will help her find the right balance between work and family.
“Serving my county had always been a desire of mine, and I was really drawn to the National Guard because of the idea of being able to help my local community in times of crisis,” said Stigler. “Becoming a physician has also been a long-term dream of mine and joining the medical corps was the perfect intersection of both those goals.”