Comments (...)NEW LENOX, Ill. — It’s was an interesting Christmas for the Hunnius family of New Lenox. On Dec. 26, Tessa Marie was born at 7:58 a.m. in the Women & Infant Services Birthing Center at the new Silver Cross Hospital.
Tessa is Dave and Kelly’s third daughter to be born at Silver Cross, but this time it was extra special. Not only did Kelly get to deliver in the comfort of the hospital’s new luxurious Birthing Suites, but little Tessa was “wrapped with care” thanks to a generous donation from Childerguild.
The women’s auxiliary that has been supporting women and children’s services at Silver Cross Hospital for more than 100 years donated 40 sleepers to be given to newborns during the holiday season. Each sleeper is imprinted with the phrase —“wrapped with care at Silver Cross Hospital;” a slogan that the Childerguild members and hospital staff take very seriously.
“For years, we had been giving stockings to parents at Christmastime that were large enough to fit the baby inside for photos, but we had heard over the years that many moms already had one. So this year two of our members, Toni Howen and Jeanne Quigley, decided to purchase these special sleepers that could be used not only during the holidays but in the weeks ahead,” said Holly Tomashek, President of Childerguild.
In addition to the Childerguild sleepers, Hortencia Garcia, an Environmental Services staff member, crocheted hats for each baby—a tradition she has carried on for many years.
“It’s the perfect gift for the perfect gift,” said Kelly Hunnius. “I wish that I had had one for my other two girls. It was very thoughtful of them.”
100 years of support for moms and children
Founded in 1910, by 13 benevolent women who had no children of their own, Childerguild was formed to benefit the obstetrics and pediatrics departments at Silver Cross Hospital. In the early years, Childerguild raised funds through private donations and by hosting card parties. The members took a hands-on approach to this organization by sewing layettes and clown dolls for the pediatric patients at Silver Cross. During the war years, members knitted sweaters for the military and gave financial support to the American Red Cross, Navy League and the Salvation Army.
Today, Childerguild raises funds by hosting their annual Ball in November and by operating the hospital’s gift shop. The Childerguild Gift Shop is open seven days a week and is located in the lobby at Silver Cross Hospital. For more information, call the Silver Cross Volunteer Services Department at (815) 300-7117.
New Birthing Center a must for expectant parents
Silver Cross expected to deliver more than 2,000 babies by the end of 2012. Expectant parents are choosing to deliver their babies in the Hospital’s new Birthing Center which opened on Feb. 26, 2012 at I-355 and U.S. 6 in New Lenox. Cutting-edge medical technology combined with spa-like amenities is making the birthing experience all the more memorable for area parents. The new Birthing Center has 12 luxurious birthing suites designed for labor, delivery and recovery so parents can have the convenience of staying in the same room through recovery followed by a stay in one of 30 private mother-baby suites. Each private suite is fully-equipped with a bathroom with a shower and immersion tub to help with labor pains, blanket warmer, refrigerator, wireless internet access, 30-inch flat screen TV system, and a comfortable sofa-sleeper so family members can stay around the clock.
A variety of pain relief methods is available 24 hours a day provided by an anesthesiologist. And for deliveries requiring surgery, there are two complete cesarean suites.
Lurie Children’s Hospital neonatologists and pediatric hospitalists are onsite 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For more information about the new Silver Cross Women and Infant Birthing Center visit www.silvercross.org/specialdeliveries.
