6 hours Ago By Sarah Rodriguez
Families celebrating the birth of a new baby within the last six months were given the opportunity to reunite with their Kaiser Permanente care teams on Thursday.The inaugural event, held at Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center, featured an intimate . reception in honor of Mother’s Day and National Nurse’s Week.
The sunflower-themed luncheon invited new and returning mothers to reconnect with physicians, nurses, and staff from the Vallejo Family Birth Center.There was mingling, keepsake cookies, and light refreshments for mothers as well as words of appreciation.“Kaiser Vallejo holds a very special place in my heart, not only because I work here, but because I was born here too,” said labor and delivery nurse Vanessa Carrasco.
“To now help bring life into the world in the same place where mine began feels like a full circle. It’s a place where care is personal and every birth gets treated like a miracle.”Last year alone, more than 1,200 babies were delivered at Kaiser, which was recognized by Newsweek magazine in 2024 for having one of the top maternity care centers in the United States.
The facility received a five-ribbon performance on the site, based on nationwide online surveys, patient surveys and hospital quality metrics. Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center was one of 168 hospitals that received the five-ribbon tier.“We hold ourselves to high standards and rigorous protocol and it takes an amazing team and support to do that,” said Ashton Evans, MCH Clinical Services Director.
Nurses, physicians, and staff spoke of their gratitude for the opportunity to meet with the babies they helped to deliver — an opportunity that does not usually occur.“I witnessed your strengths, your love, and those first unforgettable babies’ first cries. This reunion means so much to us because it reminds us why we love what we do.
Being part of your birth story is something I will never take for granted,” said labor and delivery nurse Mari Jenson.Angelica Esquivel holds 5-month-old Abel as she talks to Chief Nurse Executive Juanita Jularbal-Walton during a celebration in honor of Mother’s Day in Vallejo on Thursday. (Chris Riley/Times-Herald)It’s their hope that the event will expand to become an annual tradition nearing Mother’s Day.
Three-time mother Lyly Halog has a personal tie to Kaiser Vallejo. Not only has she chosen to birth two of her three children at Kaiser, but her husband James works in the NICU as well, allowing him to be actively involved in birthing both children.“It was special to him to be able to bring the kids into the world,” said Halog.
“And props to the midwives for allowing him to do that.”As far as the rest of them, Halog said she “can’t say enough about the staff here,” at Vallejo Kaiser. “Everybody from two deliveries that I’ve had here, has been amazing.
And it’s pretty awesome to be able to be here for the first Mother’s Day celebration for Kaiser Vallejo moms.”.
