Center for Maternal and Fetal Care hosts holiday reunion for former patients, children

Center for Maternal and Fetal Care hosts holiday reunion for former patients, children

Published on Monday, December 16, 2024

By: Annie Oeth, [email protected]

Wishes whispered to Santa Claus, carols, cocoa and cookies made special holiday memories for families of the University of Mississippi Medical Center's Center for Maternal and Fetal Care and their care team.

The center, located at Wiser Hospital for Women and Infants, hosted the reunion at the Kathy and Joe Sanderson Tower at Children's of Mississippi Saturday. The well-attended reunion is the first in about a decade.

"I'm so glad we could come over to see everyone again, especially at Christmas," said Haylee Ladner, who, with husband Shawn, brought quintuplets Adalyn Elizabeth, Everleigh Rose, Malley Kate, Magnolia Mae and Jake Easton, born in 2023, and little sister Ella Claire, born in 2024.

"This makes my heart smile," said Brittney Davis, a nurse at the center, who reconnected with mothers who were in her care and their children.

The Center for Maternal and Fetal Care offers customized care to patients based on the needs of mother and child. It features the largest number of maternal-fetal specialists in the state as well as a comprehensive team of pediatric subspecialists and support services.

"We began with a fetal board in about 2002," said Dr. James Bofill, professor of obstetrics and gynecology. "To stay on the same page, we would present fetal cases that would become pediatric cardiology and surgery cases."

More than 20 years later, Bofill said he hears from his former patients and their babies.

"I get Christmas cards from them," he said. "Some of the earliest babies born with care from the Center for Maternal and Fetal Care are in college now."

Dr. Jennifer Shores, professor of fetal cardiology, counts several nursing and medical students among her former patients at the center.

Reunion attendees were some of the more recent Center for Maternal and Fetal Care children, who were gleefully enjoying cookies and visiting with Santa Claus.

"Seeing these children and families happy at Christmas is a joy," said Dr. Rachael Morris, associate professor of maternal fetal medicine.

Kim Walton, a fetal sonographer at the center, said, "It's so sweet to see these children running around having Christmas fun. I usually see them in black, white and gray (in sonograms), so it's wonderful to see how they're growing up."

Ashleigh Dickerson of Florence and twins Kirby and Keifer, now 6 months old, remembers a time earlier this year when she was getting daily check-ups at the center, starting when the boys were at 25 weeks' gestation. They were born at 32 weeks.

"I couldn't have asked for better care," she said. "Everyone was patient with me and caring."

Karinlee Brister of McComb, mom of Kathrynlee and Jackson Brister-McDaniel, said seeing her family's care team during the holiday season brought feelings of gratitude. "It makes us realize how blessed we are."

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