Valley Regional Medical Center Welcomes Its First Baby Of The New Year!
Brownsville, Texas, January 1, 2014—Valley Regional Medical Center and Dr. Orlando Ramirez helped Abril Elizondo and Ariel Munoz, Jr. welcome their daughter, Amiee to the world at 2:38am on January 1, 2014. Amiee weighs 6 lbs and 14.8 ozs and is 20” long. This is their first baby. Amiee is also the first granddaughter born to both families.
“This is our first baby, born on the first day of the year”, said Abril. “She made a grand entrance, being the only baby born at Valley Regional on New Year’s Day. I didn’t think about having a baby on a holiday but I’m very happy”. “We’ll go from popping fireworks right into a birthday party”, said Ariel.
“We are honored that families in our community have chosen us to help welcome their children into the world and be part of their memories that will last a lifetime’, said Susan Andrews, CEO of Valley Regional Medical Center. “For more than 38 years we’ve been delivering and caring for babies. Our dedicated team of employees and physicians are committed to providing our patients and families with the best care possible. We wish all of the families in our community a happy and healthy new year”.
Amiee received a large special gift bag from the hospital in honor of being the first baby born in 2014 at Valley Regional Medical Center.
Valley Regional Medical Center provides a dedicated, 31-bed Postpartum Care Unit. Our goal is to create a peaceful surrounding that reduces stress while maximizing patient comfort. On-site lactation specialists are available to assist with breastfeeding education. We offer prenatal and breast feeding classes in both English and Spanish. Our Newborn Nursery Department is dedicated to ensuring that you, your new baby and your family are well taken care of during the first few days after your baby arrives. Our compassionate and caring nursing staff is here to help when you may need it most. We also care for our tiniest patients in our Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), which provide highly specialized care in comforting surroundings. Our Neonatologist works with Neonatal Nurse Practitioners who are staffed on the unit 24/7 along with other specially-trained staff to monitor and care for each baby in the unit. Rest assured our team of doctors, nurses, and other NICU caregivers will do their best to provide emotional support for you while caring for your infant’s medical needs. From the courageous spirits of our littlest patients to the compassionate hearts of our healthcare workers, our NICU is about commitment to life. Until the babies in our NICU are strong and healthy enough to go home to their families, they are part of ours.
In November 2013, Valley Regional Medical Center opened Brownsville’s first donor human milk depot, a place where lactating women can donate their extra breastmilk to help feed premature and critically ill babies. The donated breastmilk will be sent to The Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin where it is pasteurized and made safe for babies, then dispensed by prescription to hospitals and outpatients throughout the Rio Grande Valley, Texas and beyond.
As a nonprofit community milk bank, The Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin serves over 100 hospitals in 20 states, including Valley Regional Medical Center.
“Because some of our babies receive milk from the Milk Bank, we understand how precious this gift is” says Karen Rhodes, Director of Women’s Service at Valley Regional Medical Center. “We’re excited to become a drop off site for our community”
About Valley Regional Medical Center
Valley Regional Medical Center is conveniently located at the corner of Expressway 77 and Alton Gloor Blvd. With physicians representing over 25 specialties, Valley Regional Medical Center is a leader in a vast array of high quality programs, including, advanced diagnostic imaging, interventional cardiac catheterization, open heart surgery, laparoscopic and endoscopic surgeries, neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, women’s services, pediatric services and neonatal intensive care. Our Emergency Department is designated as a Level III Trauma Center treating a wide range of emergent needs 24 hours a day. For more information on Valley Regional Medical Center’s programs and services, visit our website at www.valleyregionalmedicalcenter.com
About HCA Gulf Coast Division
HCA Gulf Coast Division is a comprehensive network of hospitals, outpatient surgery centers, emergency centers, and diagnostic imaging facilities. It offers a complete continuum of specialized health programs and services that meet the needs of Greater Houston and South Texas’ residents and businesses. HCA affiliated facilities in the Gulf Coast Division include: 9 hospitals, 9 ambulatory surgery centers, 14 diagnostic imaging facilities, 8 off-campus emergency centers, and a regional transfer center that provides one-phone-call access and support for patient transfers into and out of the HCA Gulf Coast Division Affiliated Hospitals, as well as access to ground and air transportation within a 150-mile radius. For more information, visit our website at www.HCAGulfCoast.com.