Names for All the Septuplets Announced : 3 Babies Are Much Improved, Doctor Says

Three of five surviving Frustaci septuplets were pronounced nearly “out of the woods” Tuesday as their parents released the names of all seven infants born May 21.

“That means, I think they are going to make it,” said Dr. Carrie Worcester at a news conference Tuesday at Childrens Hospital of Orange County. “They are doing extremely well, and there is no reason for me to think these babies won’t have the full chance for survival and normal development.”

However, the second-born child, a boy named James Martin Frustaci, remained critically ill and was given only a 50-50 chance of survival.

‘Still Extremely Concerned’

“We are still extremely concerned about this baby and about this baby’s chance of survival,” said Worcester, who is director of the hospital’s newborn intensive care unit, where the babies were transferred immediately after birth.

“I would have to say . . . I still think we are in the 50-50 ballpark,” Worcester said.

The fourth-born child, a girl named Bonnie Marie, has not improved over the last 48 hours, although she made “remarkable improvement” several days ago, Worcester said.

Doctors were planning to try different combinations of pressure and oxygen mixtures on respirators to help both infants overcome severe hyaline membrane disease, a common ailment in premature babies that remains the No. 1 problem of all five surviving septuplets, Worcester said.

Their mother, Patti Frustaci, was so exhausted Tuesday that she bypassed a scheduled meeting with reporters to announce the names of her new babies. Instead, she asked a spokeswoman for St. Joseph Hospital, where she delivered the infants last week, to release the names for her.

The 30-year-old Riverside high school teacher was scheduled to be released from the hospital in the city of Orange today, according to Tes Pane, director of obstetrical and gynecological nursing at St. Joseph.

The three infants given the best chance for survival were named Patricia Ann, Stephen Earl and Richard Charles, Pane said.

Patti Frustaci named the seventh and stillborn septuplet--who weighed only 15 1/2 ounces and was believed dead in the womb for several days--Christina Elizabeth.

The sixth born, a 1-pound, 1-ounce boy nicknamed “The Peanut” who battled against the odds for 64 hours before succumbing to cardiopulmonary failure, was named David Anthony.

The babies’ father, Samuel Frustaci, also was absent from Tuesday’s news conference. Pane said the 32-year-old industrial equipment salesman had to return to work in Buena Park and was simultaneously trying to make arrangements for a joint funeral for the two deceased infants.

Private Funeral Planned

The babies’ maternal grandfather, David Jorgensen of Orange, indicated that a private funeral would be held when his daughter was released from the hospital and was able to attend, said Debra Conkey, public information officer for St. Joseph.

Although Samuel Frustaci initially said he and his wife would name the children according to the first seven letters of the alphabet they were designated with at birth, it appeared that Patti Frustaci had her mind made up and waited only until she could see the children Saturday night and again Monday evening before a final decision.

Pane said Patti Frustaci told her that some of the children have been named after “some very special people in their lives.” Patti Frustaci’s mother is named Bonnie and her father’s name is David.

Patti Frustaci, who has been hospitalized since March 25, was about 28 weeks pregnant at the time of the birth. A normal, uncomplicated pregnancy lasts 40 weeks. She had been taking fertility drugs.

The English teacher at Rubidoux High School has a 14-month-old son, Joseph, who also was conceived with the aid of fertility drugs.

Exclusive Story

There was speculation that both mother and father were avoiding public appearances to protect an exclusive cover story on the Frustacis in next week’s People magazine, which bought the rights to their story for an undisclosed sum.

Pane, however, said Patti Frustaci genuinely wanted to meet with reporters to announce the names of her children but was physically unable to take the strain. Pane said the mother periodically must go on an oxygen breathing apparatus, and did so Tuesday morning during the course of a 1 1/2-hour conversation with the nursing director.

“I can say truly from the heart, she would not have withstood standing up here trying to . . . answer your questions,” Pane said. “It was very difficult for her just talking with me.”

As for Patti’s husband, Pane repeated that Samuel Frustaci “had to go to work” Tuesday.

Worcester said all of the surviving septuplets have recovered from jaundice, an ailment common in premature babies that indicates their livers are not fully developed and cannot pass toxins that build up in their systems. The infants were treated with light therapy to help absorb toxins, called billirubins, through their skin.

Duct Was Closed

Previously, medication successfully closed a duct from the aorta to the pulmonary artery that caused blood to leak into the babies’ tiny lungs. Worcester said the infants are receiving transfusions only to replace blood taken for testing purposes.

All five remained on respirators Tuesday to help them breathe while they fought against hyaline membrane disease. It is also a common affliction of premature infants that causes their lungs to collapse when breathing because they lack a lubricant known as surfactant in the air sacs.

The disease is most severe in the infant named James Martin. Worcester said the baby has “very, very stiff lungs,” which makes use of the respirator difficult. Without going into details, she said the hospital staff would try “some different” settings on the respirator to try to help the baby’s lungs combat the disease.

Although there was concern that Bonnie Marie had not shown recent improvement, Worcester said she thought the fourth-born infant had passed “a critical period for survival.” The first 72 hours after birth is considered the most crucial period for hyaline membrane disease.

Effects May Linger

Worcester said the three most improved babies could still suffer chronic effects of the lung disease for weeks or months after birth because of their small size. She said that even chronic hyaline membrane disease does not necessarily lead to severe lung problems later in life.

None of the surviving septuplets are likely to be released from the hospital before mid-August, when they would have been born had their mother carried them to full term, Worcester said. Babies usually are not released from the newborn intensive care unit until they weigh about 4 1/2 pounds, are weaned from respirators and most medication and have no major problems.

The babies’ mother was listed in good condition Tuesday in the regular recovery ward at St. Joseph, where she was transferred from intensive care Monday afternoon. However, Pane said Patti Frustaci still has not been able to eat solid food and cannot walk any great distance. She was brought to see her babies in a wheelchair Monday evening.

Pane said the recuperating mother became so weak after visiting with two of the five infants, she collapsed in a chair and was given “chocolate milk” and a lemon-lime soda “to bolster her up.”

If she is released to go home today, Pane predicted, “She isn’t going to be doing much for several weeks.”