Naval Hospital Bremerton's First Baby of 2013 Enjoys Strong Community Support

By Douglas H. Stutz, Naval Hospital Bremerton Public Affairs

BREMERTON, Wash. (NNS) -- The New Year celebration at Naval Hospital Bremerton's Northwest Beginnings Family Birth Center officially began more than 17 hours into 2013 with the arrival of the first baby.

Electrician's Mate 2nd Class Doug Lason and his wife Jordyn celebrated the birth of their son, Corey Matthew, who was born Jan. 1, 2013 at 5:39 p.m. PST, and weighed 6 pounds, 1 ounce.

Lason is assigned to fleet ballistic missile submarine USS Nebraska (SSBN 739) Blue. Both parents are natives of West Branch, Mich., and currently reside in Silverdale, Wash.

Corey is the family's second child. Both mother and baby are doing well. "The staff here are great. We were admitted yesterday and didn't think the entire process would take as long as it did," said Doug, a very proud father.

It was Lason's 2-year old daughter, Zoey, who decided on the name Corey for the new addition to the family. "She came up with the name one day and it just fit. We then added his middle name later on. Corey Matthew flows," Doug said.

The staff at Northwest Beginnings Family Birth Center was busy taking deliveries from the stork throughout December, especially on the last day. There were 66 new babies for December, five births recorded Dec. 31, including one who was born 45 minutes before the New Year. Overall, Naval Hospital Bremerton recorded 804 births for 2012, an average of 67 per month.

In honor of the first NHB New Year's Baby of 2013, the NHB Oakleaf organization took the lead to recognize the family by presenting them with a gift basket that included such items as bathing supplies, blankets, books, clothing, diapering items, toys, and sparkling cider for a celebration toast.

According to Laura Stetler, NHB Oakleaf president, they originally proposed the idea of providing support for the first baby born in 2013 to the hospital leadership in November and were granted approval for their enthusiasm.

"Oakleaf member Lisa Danenberg brought the idea to Bremerton from Naval Hospital Jacksonville. This is one of our ways to actively share support for Navy families in our area.," said Stetler, who worked with the command leadership, and Labor and Delivery to coordinate presentation of a basket of donated gifts from Oakleaf to the family.

"We are all very happy to help out in any way that we can," said Danenberg.

Oakleaf is a volunteer-run nonprofit organization comprised of Medical, Dental, Nurse, and Medical Service Corps officers' spouses in the Puget Sound area. NHB Oakleaf builds community through social activities and interest groups and supports the military hospital community through charitable projects.

"NHB Oakleaf members enjoy getting involved in celebrating the Navy community here at NHB and the larger Kitsap community. The New Year's Baby is a fun way to support the Navy family of NBK," Stetler said.