Celebrating Life's Beginning & Ending

At a Northwest Arkansas Hospital, Mom and Dad delivered a beautiful baby amid the chaos of COVID19. Nothing out of the ordinary, ten fingers and ten toes were counted, perfect in every way. Strict new rules are in place to keep everyone safe. Dad was the only one allowed with Mom during labor and delivery.

Other family were not allowed into the hospital to pace and wait anxiously. Instead, they waited and paced at home, eager to hear if it was a boy or a girl. However, the folks at home would wait a little longer, because there was someone else the new parents needed to tell first.

In another part of Arkansas, hospice staff were aware of developing events that would bring joy and happiness to one of their sweetest patients and were determined to do whatever it took for her to enjoy the moment. There are new strict rules in place to keep everyone safe, including no visitors. NEW Great-Grandmother, “Tootsie” is being kept safe by her caregivers at the Comfort Care Center in Little Rock.

A little smart phone technology would be needed, and Volunteer Coordinator Sandy Burrow was just the person to make it all happen. “What an exceptional moment to share with someone,” Sandy remembers thinking, as she followed the labor and delivery updates from family members throughout the day and evening.

The next morning, Tootsie was able to ‘FaceTime’ with the new parents, and quickly learned about the new baby girl, who would also be her namesake. Sandy said, “she was grinning ear to ear!” Amid a few joyful tears and smiles, the staff who joined the happy moment were able to joke with Tootsie that maybe this new little one would also have a similar nickname and be called ‘Toot’.

This happy news came amid unprecedented chaos and uncertainty. Sandy commented, “All of the things that we would normally think were so easy, are now just a little bit more difficult. However, we must celebrate the beginning of life, as well as its ending, both are equally beautiful.”