Walla Walla, WA—One year ago, Providence St. Mary Medical Center opened the newly-expanded and updated first phase of the Family Birth Center. Since the opening, 701 babies have been safely welcomed into the world in the new space.
In early 2016, St. Mary suddenly became the only birth center in Walla Walla. This increased annual births at the facility from around 500 to more than 700. An investment from the Providence St. Mary Foundation bridged the gap in construction costs for this much-needed expansion. In 10 short months, the community stepped up by contributing more than $400,000 towards this project.
Baby Rowan Hartzheim was the first baby born in the new, dedicated surgical suite when mom’s skyrocketing blood pressure led to an emergency C-section. Of their experience, mom shared that having the surgical suite so close was amazing, because she did not need to feel scared about being taken to the operating room downstairs—an unfamiliar environment away from her family.
Rowan recently celebrated his first birthday with a monster-themed caked. These days, he keeps his mom busy—he can walk and is working on running; he says “mama.” “yes” and “boom!” As his mom says, Rowan has a flair for the dramatic.
Providence St. Mary Foundation develops and provides philanthropic resources to help ensure compassionate quality health care is available to the communities we serve, with special concern for the poor and vulnerable. In 2018, the foundation committed more than $1 million in philanthropic to support to our hospital and clinics. For more information, visit providence.org/stmaryfoundation.
Click here to read a message from Lindsey Oldridge, Chief Philanthropy Officer.
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