Trifecta of generations at Kootenai Health
New baby Bennett at Kootenai Health Family Birth Center with his mother, Morgan Snider, father Matthew Snider and paternal grandmother Alyssa Stromberg. All three generations were born at Kootenai Health, including maternal grandmother Windy Newell, not pictured.
Photo by Kerri Thoreson
At 9:27 p.m. Sept. 27, I was promoted from grandma status to that of great-grandma! Receiving his first bold-face mention on the pages of the local newspaper is Bennett Lane Snider, the most beautiful brown-haired baby ever born. GiGi Kerri is smitten with this little one, in case two sentences in, it’s not obvious.
What a unique experience to spend 12 hours in the maternity waiting area with my oldest daughter, Alyssa, while she awaited the birth of a grandchild, her son, Matthew’s, firstborn. We all practiced patience while Matthew’s wife, Morgan, did the “heavy lifting.” Life’s full-circle moments are so sweet.
I gave birth to my firstborn, Alyssa, at Kootenai Memorial Hospital a lifetime ago. She gave birth there when her firstborn, Matthew, came into the world. Matthew, our first grandchild, bestowed the title of grandma upon me and to be there as he welcomed his own child was an extraordinary blessing.
So three generations of my family started life at Kootenai Memorial, now Kootenai Health! But wait, there’s more ... Bennett’s mom, Morgan, was also born at Kootenai Health, as was her mother and father, Windy and Michael Newell. Three generations on BOTH sides are KH alumni!
The hospital has changed since Alyssa and then Matthew were born. Today, the maternity ward of yesteryear is a beautiful Family Birth Center. The individual labor rooms are also delivery rooms so Mom and Dad can be together throughout the journey. After the baby is born there are individual postpartum suites that are large and private and just perfect for Mommy, Daddy and newborn to bond and to receive visitors, such as doting grandparents. It’s a lovely facility staffed by really special people.
Our hearts are overflowing with love and gratitude for the blessing of new life and the next generation. Family is everything and then some.
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Happy birthday today to Wendy Medlock, Jack Sjostrom, Dana Kinsey, Rebecca Armstrong, Millie Eylar, Linda Harris, Reneé Mullan, Karla Derton and David Tabakman. Tomorrow, Andy Stidham aka Bill Bosley, Dave Bobbitt, Dave Priano, Madison Morrow, Darcy Johnson, Shylo Deubner, Meilee Anderson and Jeff McLean mark their birthdays. On Friday, Mary Wolfinger, Jada Olson, Michael Hillman, Barbara Lovett, Teri Grubbs, Valerie Queen, Ami Manning, John Beebe, Mike Bryan, Tommy Lynn and Nicole Sobelman blow out the candles. Jan Lindquist, Pat Riley, Amber Butler, Margie Basaraba, Jonalyn Clayton, Debbie McEnespy, David Kamka, Joe Eatherton, Steve Staaben and Tim Turrell dance a birthday polka Saturday. On Sunday, Gary Marian, Brooke Miller, Rochelle Seher, Katrina Slater, Kyle Messier, Kate Bennett and Ricky Blaski enjoy a piece of birthday cake. Wishing Midge Smock, Vicki Gehring, Mark Michalak and Erin Paisley their best birthdays ever Monday. Pat McGaughey, Dale Bennett, Craig Hampton, Suzanne DeTar, Laurie Rumore, Joel Elgee, Barbara Baltzell, Chris Nicastro, Josh Hissong and Jeff Hill toast the anniversary of their birth Oct. 8.
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Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri can be contacted on Facebook or via email thoreson.kerri@gmail.com.