Fort Myers, FL- Southwest Florida is experiencing tremendous population growth. The Lee country population has seen an 8.1% increase between 2020 and 2022, as tracked by the United States Census Bureau. With growing numbers, a variety of records are being broken, some of which are happening at Health Park Hospital’s labor and delivery unit. The Fort Myers hospital welcomes an average of 6,100 babies per year, and that number may climb in 2023, according to WINKnews.
The labor and delivery unit at Health Park Hospital in Fort Myers, Florida has seen some miraculous premature newborn survivors and 2 records broken so far this year. The first was the smallest baby ever born on site. The second record broken was the most babies born in a single day.
Weighing less than 1 lb., at 9.5 oz., Darionna Williams was born on April 28, 2023, at just 25 weeks old, according to Local 10 News. Darionna has now passed the 3-month mark and is still in the NICU at Golisano Children’s Hospital in Fort Myers, she is up to 2 lbs. 4oz. and was recently taken off a ventilator, reports WINKnews. Her mom Tkyia White of Lehigh Acres, Florida, is raising funds to help pay for practical needs like a car seat and other essentials for when it’s time to take her baby home. She created a GoFundme account for anyone who wants to help with donations. Tykia told Local 10 News, that her message to others going through difficult pregnancy is to keep praying and stay hopeful.
Another small baby that was born at Health Park in April is growing stronger in the NICU at Golisano Children’s Hospital. Baby Camilla was born on April 17, 2023 at just 21 weeks, weighing 1lb., 9 oz., according to WINKnews. Medical professionals call Camilla nothing less than a miracle and one of Camilla’s nurses, Barbara Gallardo called her extremely rare and the youngest baby she’s ever taken care of, reports WINKnews. She was born premature due to an infection that could have killed her, and once born, doctors did not expect her to survive one full day, as reported by WINKnews. The parents of Camilla told WINKnews that they prayed for their baby nonstop and the first thing they want to do when she is released from the hospital is take her to church. Camilla’s GoFundme page, set up by family, is available for anyone who would like to donate to help cover medical expenses.
In July the hospital’s labor and delivery unit broke its second record, when 30 babies were delivered in one day. Ironically, that day, July 11, 2023 was named “World Population Day” by the United States Census Bureau. Jaclyn Bevis, a spokesperson for Lee Health, said the previous record was 29 babies delivered in one day, reports News-Press. Speculation was made that these babies were born close to 9 months after hurricane Ian and that the number of births had spiked 9 months after hurricane Irma in 2018. One of the Advanced Practice Registered Nurses at Health Park and resident of Sanibel Island, Dr Joyce Arand stated in her interview with WINKnews , “It could be related, yes, but no babies were named Ian that we know of”.
Between the Covid 19 pandemic and then being hit hard by massive hurricane Ian, Health Park has come through a lot in the past few years as depicted in the timeline below. People were flocking to Southwest Florida throughout the pandemic increasing the population. The hospital was stretched, as all the healthcare industry was during covid-19. Things were starting to ease up, but then hurricane Ian came, and the hospital was highly impacted.
The recent times have not been easy for the staff at Health Park. With new life comes hope. There is victory in bringing all these lives into the world. Health Park celebrates these tiny miracles and record breaking births with newfound hope for the future.
Sally JC Journals 