Submitted by Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority
On New Year’s Day, many were happy to close the door on 2020 and celebrate the start of a new year filled with hope, as vaccines for the coronavirus pandemic have started to roll out. Jonie and Kelvin Kleinsasser from Stony Mountain had an extra reason to celebrate, because their son Hudson arrived into the world on at 7:22 p.m. on Jan. 1, 2021. Hudson is the first baby born in the Interlake-Eastern health region.
Hudson was born eight pounds, nine ounces and 20.5 inches long in Selkrik Regional Health Centre’s family birthing unit, the region’s only birth centre. Attending the birth was Dr. Andrea Fulmore and nurses from the unit.
“We are thankful we got to give birth in a smaller hospital during the coronavirus pandemic,” said Jonie Kleinsasser. “The staff were welcoming and did an amazing job taking care of us. Thank you!”
Prior to the family’s departure from hospital, they were gifted a playpen, sleepers and diapers from the Selkirk Regional Health Centre Ladies Auxiliary. . Every year, the auxiliary celebrates the hospital’s first baby of the year with gifts that that provide comfort and help extend the care received at the hospital into the baby’s home. The auxiliary, who operate the gift shop at Selkirk Regional Health Centre, has also provided several significant donations to the hospital over the years, to help improve the comfort, care and wellbeing of patients.
“We’ve been celebrating New Year’s babies since the hospital was located on Eveline Street,” said Betty Milkowski, president of the auxiliary. “We’re honoured to help parents with their new additions in this way. Congratulations to the Kleinsasser family!”
According to Victoria Wilgosh, Clinical Team Manager for the birthing unit, 330 babies were delivered at the birthing centre in 2020.
“Our family birthing unit opened in the summer of 2017, and we are happy to have a great facility with amazing staff serving moms across the Interlake-Eastern region,” said Wilgosh. “One thing we would like people to know is that we do offer epidurals at the centre. We encourage anyone who is expecting and has any questions to contact the hospital and ask for the family birthing unit. We’re always happy to help and feel privileged to play a role in this special time for families.”
