Shira Cole

Shira Cole is a pregnant woman who started having contractions at 25 weeks.

History
When Shira was 25 weeks pregnant, she started having contractions, so she saw Pete to try to stop the contractions. Before he could start acupuncture, her contractions intensified and Naomi said it could be active labor. Shira's water broke and blood was present.

They called Addison because of the bleeding and she determined that Shira had had a placental abruption. Shira begged her not to let the baby be born, but Addison was forced to deliver him in the ambulance because they couldn't stop her contractions. Shira was rushed into surgery to stop her bleeding while her baby, Langston, was taken to the NICU.

Langston struggled greatly in the NICU. He weighed less than two pounds and a cerebral hemorrhage, as well as necrotizing enterocolitis. Addison offered them surgery, but made it clear that he'd have a whole series of surgeries and would be suffered between them. They decided they wanted the surgery. Addison agreed after some reluctance.

In surgery, Addison found no clear margins and said there was no part of the bowel she could save. She was forced to close without doing anything. When she told Shira and Matthew, they asked for odds. She said there was a less than 1% chance he'd leave the NICU. Addison said she could put in a central line to feed him, but she refused to do another surgery.

Matthew asked Pete about Dr. Graham at County. Pete said Graham was good, but he supported Addison's decision. When Shira talked about never having touched him, Naomi said there was a way she could hold him. Shira agreed to let him go, but Matthew needed more convincing that it was the right thing to do.

Langston was disconnected from his machines and his mother held him and sang to him as he died.

Romantic
She is married to Matthew Cole.

Career
She and her husband are both English teachers.