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Elisha Crews Bryant died May 26, from an overdose of medication at South Florida Baptist Hospital.
Video: Hospital Admits Mistake
By DAVE NICHOLSON
The Tampa Tribune
PLANT CITY - Preston Bryant was so happy to learn that his wife was in labor - albeit a few weeks early - that he forgot to clock out at his construction job at a mobile home factory.
In a few hours, though, Bryant would be a widower with a premature son fighting for life in a neonatal unit.
His wife, Elisha Crews Bryant, 18, died May 26 about three hours after a veteran South Florida Baptist Hospital nurse mistakenly administered an overdose of a drug commonly used to stop premature labor.
Elisha Bryant was buried June 1, the day after her husband’s 21st birthday.
“She was beautiful,” he said of Elisha, whom he started dating six years ago. He was in high school then, she in middle school. The couple had a daughter, Tailor, who is almost 3, and married two years ago.
“I couldn’t ask for a better mom and a better wife.”
The young mother’s death left a family grieving and the hospital staff in emotional pain.
On Wednesday, Preston Bryant blamed South Florida Baptist as he fought tears and occasionally broke down while speaking to reporters.
“It should have never happened,” he said.
The Plant City hospital acknowledged Wednesday that an employee made a tragic mistake and said it had offered its apologies to the Bryant family. Hospital Chief Operating Officer Bill Ulbricht said the nurse who administered the dose is on administrative leave pending an investigation.
“She is extremely devastated,” Ulbricht said of the nurse, who he said has more than 20 years of experience. He would not identify her.
“This is a tragic, isolated incident. The entire health care team at South Florida Baptist Hospital is truly devastated by this situation, and we are providing emotional counseling for them,” Ulbricht said.
Common Medication
When Bryant arrived at South Florida Baptist with labor pains about seven months into her pregnancy, her physician ordered magnesium sulfate, a common medication to stop premature labor, Ulbricht said. The nurse miscalculated and administered the medication via an intravenous line too quickly, he said.
The young mother began having trouble breathing, went into cardiac arrest and could not be revived, said Doug Burnetti, a Lakeland attorney who represents Preston Bryant.
Burnetti said medical records show Elisha Bryant received 16 grams of magnesium sulfate, four times the proper dose.
Ulbricht said this is the first time in his 11 years at South Florida Baptist that he can recall such a mistake. The hospital has about 500 deliveries a year. According to news reports, overdoses of magnesium sulfate were blamed for the deaths of at least three pregnant women in the United States in the past 13 years.
Ulbricht said the 147-bed hospital provides good care and that steps are being taken, such as more supervision, to ensure the error does not happen again.
A spokesman for the medical examiner’s office said the results of an autopsy on Elisha Bryant, who was a YMCA child-care worker, will take another four to six weeks.
Burnetti said a lawsuit against the hospital is possible and that his law firm is investigating the case. He said the hospital has been apologetic and cooperative.
Hospital Delivered Their 1st Child
Elisha Crews was a Durant High School student when she became pregnant the first time.
Tailor, who still cries out for her mother, had an uneventful birth at South Florida Baptist, her husband said. Preston Bryant said the couple made arrangements for the birth of their son at the same hospital.
He said he knew something was wrong shortly after the medication was administered and said at first he couldn’t get the staff to listen to his concerns. He was hustled from the room as her condition worsened.
Levi Bryant, taken by emergency Caesarean section, weighed 2 pounds, 10 ounces at birth and was 16 1/4 inches long. Bryant and his attorney would not say where the baby is hospitalized, but he is expected to require care for at least two more months.
“He’s not going to give up, and I’m not going to give up on him,” Preston Bryant said.
Sherry Crews described Elisha as a perfect daughter who didn’t smoke, drink alcohol or use drugs.
Crews said the death has turned her world upside down. “It’s been a nightmare.”
Reporter Ray Reyes and researcher Michael A. Messano contributed to this report. Contact Dave Nicholson at (813) 865-4432 or dnicholson@tampatrib.com.
Bless those who mourn, eternal God,
with the comfort of your love
that they may face each new day with hope and the certainty that nothing can destroy the good that has been given. May their memories become joyful,
their days enriched with friendship,
and their lives encircled by your love.
Amen.
I hope you are reading these Preston and Mr. And Mrs. Crews and Josh. This is Amber your old neighbor and well Preston, you know me- I am so sorry, I can’t believe this happened, when I saw it on the news I was shocked and hurt and my heart just sunk knowing your loss. I know I haven’t seen you all since the birth of Taylor, but you have all been in my thoughts. I know this will be extremely difficult to get through and I just want you to know my thoughts and prayers will be with you all. She we so deeply be missed and Never forgotten. I can’t believe this has happened and I’m so sorry you all have to go through this, I wish she was still here.
Again I’m truely sorry,
Amber.
I am so sorry. No words can describe or diminish your pain. Your wife was a truly beautiful woman. I grieve with you and I do not even know you. Please accept my humblest condolences. No excuses should be accepted for this tragedy. I realize the nurse is extremely upset, but if she has twenty years under her belt, how could she possibly administer this medication at this dose without questioning SOMEONE? I pray for you.
Oh My God!! What is wrong with some of you people. This man lost his wife, and possibly his son.What does it matter how old they are? That has NOTHING to do with what happened to this poor family you bozo… [and you know who I’m talking about} There is NO amount of money that can bring this man’s wife back!! My prayer’s go out to him and her family members. God Bless.
My total sympathy....overworked staff, non caring staff, persons who don’t take the time to check what they are doing and how they are giving....I can relate....I lost my brother-in-law in a major hospital due to improper care.
NO AMOUNT OF MONEY REPLACES A HUMAN BEING.....Pray for the children left behind. They will pay now, and every day they breathe...So So Sorry.
Dear Preston, From our families to yours our hearts and prayers are with you. We are truly sorry for your loss and sorrow during this heart breaking time. May God be with all of you now and always, may he give you all strength to endure this terrible tragedy.We love you and you are in our prayers.
May God Bless You,
Adam and Christina Bryan
The Hendley Family and the Faulk Family
I’m so sorry for your loss, it’s true that she truly is beautiful, but we all have to move on. I hope that Elisha will watch over her newborn…
I THINK THAT IT IS THE HOSPITAL ALL AROUND I WENT THERE OVER TWO YEARS AGO AND THEY ABOUT KILLED ME I WAS SEVERLY BLEEDING VAGINALLY AFTER A STILL BORN BIRTH AND THEY TOLD ME I WAS FINE THAT IT WAS NORMAL TO BLEED LIKE THAT I WENT HOME AND FILLED UP A TRASH BAG FULL OF BLOOD CALLED BACK SPOKE TO ONE OF THOSE QUALITY NURSES THERE AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NORMAL THAT I COULD BLEED LIKE THAT FOR UP TO 24 HRS AND SENT ME HOME THREE HOURS LATER I WENT TO MY OBGYN OFFICE AND ENDED UP PASSING OUT AND FALLING OFF THE EXAMINING TABLE BREAKING MY JAW BECAUSE I HAD LOST SO MUCH BLOOD.I WAS TAKEN TO BRANDON REGIONAL WHERE WHEN I GOT THERE MY HEMOGLOBIN WAS SO LOW THAT I NEEDED A BLOOD TRANSFUSION I ENDED UP STAYING AT BRANDON HOSPITAL FOR 3 DAYS WITH A BROKE JAW BECAUSE NO ONE WOULD HELP ME IT IS SO AMAZING HOW THEY ALL COVER UP FOR EACH OTHER JUST GOES TO SHOW IT JUST MIGHT BE THAT JOKE OF A HOSPITAL 
Instead of placing all of the blame on the veteran nurse, I hope SFBH (and the other hospitals in their network) will admit that the policies and procedures that they have in place are not enough to prevent this from happening. The system needs to be changed. I pray for strength for Levi and his family and pray that this tragedy will not be forgotten and will instead serve as a catalyst for change in our healthcare system. I also pray that SFBH will do the right thing and make sure that all of the hospital bills are taken care of and cooperate with the family’s attorney so that there is no long and drawn out court battle.
To the family of this mother - my thoughts and prayers be with you, I hope your son is doing better and he is growing stronger each and every day.
To diego myfly - this is a happy young family with nothing but love and joy to spread in this world. They were holding down jobs and making a wonderful life for themselves. The mothers you should be “troubled” over are the 40+ year old mother that left her baby to die in Tampa (I believe in an alley) a few weeks ago or the unknown mother of the baby left in a trash can at an apartment complex in Lakeland.
This is a very tragic thing for anyone to have to deal with and an error that this nurse will never forget the rest of her life. Preston is a great young man, although I’ve never met Elisha I know her father in law thought a great deal of her and sent me pictures to have a copy of Elisha, Preston & Tailor. We need prayers for ALL involved, may God bring comfort and peace within the hearts of all that are suffering. I know this will be hard for Preston but I know he will do a good job at raising these babies and telling them of their mother. May God Bless them all.
First I’d like to say I’m so sorry for the familes loss and even more sorry that her kids will now grow up without their mother. I know that this loss will bring Preston and his kids alot closer then what they already were. God Bless you all and I will keep you and the babies in my prayers. This comment is for Diego though. What is wrong with having kids at a young age? She was married and at lease she took care of them insted of giving them up or something. I am 19 years old. I’m Married and I have a 2 year and I also have a 4 year old. I respect this lady for being able to handle her own. Its very hard when your young and now she will never get to see her kids again until God calls them all home. DIEGO GO TO HELL YOU HEARTLESS HYPOCRITE!!!
I am so saddened by your loss. May you find peace in the memories of her that you carry in your heart.
The employer now days do not want to pay the labor. nurses are overwork under pay and doing double shift, therefore very tired. That is the consecuense unfortunaly we pay. Because greed has overpass the care we fill about other human been.
Company hired unexperience employee and let off the good tech for less salary and less benefics.
To the widower, my hart goes out to him and he and the new born will be on my prayers.
What a sad story. And even sadder that there are those who feel that posting inappropriate comments here is somehow justified. This is about a family that has suffered a horrible loss. If you have a beef with others (TOYA), take it somewhere else. If you can’t say anything positive to the family, don’t post here.
My heart goes out to this young father and the life he has ahead of him.
My heart & prayers go out to the family. To the father - hold in there and keep strong. My son was also a 2 mnth early preemie, weighing in at about the same as your son and now he will be 4 in just a few days and is 35lbs and healthy. And even though your wife may not be physically standing next to you today, just remember that she will forever live through the hearts of your children.
God Bless you, your family and your children.
this story is very sad .the idea that a nurse can make a mistake that huge & devistating & most likely be allowed to return to her job is unbelieveable. that poor family doesn’t get their wife & mother back , but after a leave of absence the nurse will be allowed to pick up where she left off. i hope the family will set up some kind fund that everyone can donate to.
My Heart goes ot the the family of
this young women. My prayers are with the Nurse involved as i know she will be totmengted the rest of her life for this tragic mistake. I wonder how many lives she has been involved in thet were saved in part by her nursing care.
God Bless them all....
I saw this story and it brought back some memories. For me thankfully I have them. I was left on straight magnesium & a higher dose than normal by a nurses mistake after giving birth to my daughter almost 3 yrs ago. I was blessed that my husband got them to listen to him about what was going on. I feel soo sad for the husband and the children. It has made me realize what could have happened to me. It was at a different bay area hospital so it goes to show it can happen anywhere. My heart and prayers go out to the family.
This is such a tragic story. I am so sorry for the family and her babies.
U keep hearing of accidents like this in hospitals all over the country and in my immediate cirlce, have known of 3 such deaths in the last year.. and a near death that was prevented… my stepfather. Are the nurses overworked and understaffed?
I’m so Very sorry for your whole family. This is very awful news take care of your babies they need you. my brother died 4 years ago he left behind 2 daughters one he’ll never get to meet, I know what your going through It get’s hard before it get better.I promise you! Take care
One could look at the old days when medicine was an art and did not cost beyond reality. Then look now at the business of medicine that like all businesses is subject to tort law. Still none of this money stuff equates the lost of a young woman. Lots of tragity for all here.
My thoughts and prayers go out to this young family and Elisha’s parents. I remember Elisha from when she attended the elementary school where I teach. She was in my daughter’s classes. Elisha was always a quiet girl with a big smile.
"To err is human, to forgive divine.”
My heartfelt sympathy goes to the family and friends of this beautiful, young woman, Elisha Bryant. I will remember her smile always.
I have been a health care professional for thirty years and have been employed at South Florida Baptist Hospital for 16 years. I do not hesitate to take my own family members to SFBH in times of emergent care. In fact, the staff there saved my daughter and grandson’s lives five years ago. The employees are extremely well trained and dedicated individuals. This recent tragedy is a reminder that people are not infallible and we all make mistakes. Perhaps, rather than focusing on blame, we should reflect on our own lives and be more aware of how precious life is. We should tell our loved ones how much they mean to us. We should embrace each day and remember the good. God bless us all.
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Posted by TOYA MARTIN, on 06/08 at 11:10 AM
I NEVER SAID I WAS NOT SORRY TO SEE THIS TRAGEDY HAPPEN & THEY DESERVED IT. NURSES ARE HUMAN BEINGS NOT GOD.
DELDAINE---I HAVE A RIGHT TO MY BEEF--KEEP YOUR COMMENTS IN MAINE. NURSES CARE MORE THAN MOST OF YOU.
MY SMALL CHILDREN WILL NEVER GET THEIR COLLEGE FUND IF THEY BECOME NURSES- I HAVE WORKED VERY HARD FOR YEARS AND PEOPLE HAVE NO IDEA OF THE SACRIFICE A NURSE MAKES-LEAVE THE FAMILY DURING HURRICAINES W/THE KIDS BEGGING THEM NOT TO GO OFTEN WORK 12 + HRS W/OUT A CHANCE TO GO TO THE RESTROOM. THEY TRY THEIR BEST EVEN WHEN THEY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH STAFF. PEOPLE THINK THE STAFF WAS IGNORING THE PT THEY HAD OTHER PTS TO CARE FOR.
ATTACKING THE NURSE ISN’T HELPING THE FAMILY OVER THEIR GRIEF-YOU SHOULD BE SPENDING YOUR TIME PRAYING FOR THOSE PEOPLE-ESPEC.THE KIDS-NOT BEING CRUEL TO NURSES.