8
QUEENS WEEKLY, JANUARY 19, 2020
Parents in the Rockaways celebrate the birth of
New Year’s baby at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital
BY JENNA BAGCAL
Two parents in the Rockaways
had more than just the New Year
to celebrate.
Molly Casiano and Vincent
John welcomed their son Kenzo
Ezekiel John, who was the first
baby born at St. John’s Episcopal
Hospital (SJEH) on New Year’s
Day. At 12:14 a.m., the couple’s
child came into the world at 4
pounds 13 ounces and 18 inches
long.
Though Baby Kenzo was born
with jaundice and shy of fullterm,
the hospital reported that
he is thriving thanks to the use
of a Giraffe Incubator Carestation
and a GE Healthcare Bilisoft
Phototherapy System. Last year,
SJEH raised $20,000 to purchase
a second Giraffe Incubator and
is fundraising to buy additional
Bilisoft systems, which help alleviate
jaundice.
“As a first-time mom I knew
nothing about jaundice and was
nervous,” Casiano said. “The fact
that Enzo is able to be in the incubator,
use the Bilisoft and stay
in my room with me at the same
time makes me feel comfortable.
He’s comfortable and it’s like he’s
lying on a beach.”
Following Kenzo’s birth, SJEH
gave the family celebratory tokens
including a stroller, clothing, a
baby care kit and a baby bouncer.
The hospital also gave the family
a baby monitor courtesy of Long
Island-based company Jzanus,
who committed to donating baby
monitors to each baby born at the
hospital in the month of January.
“The Bilisoft is what makes
Enzo’s skin go from yellowish
pigment to normal,” John said.
“It’s perfect that the community
contributed to fundraising for
this equipment just for the little
ones because, at the end of the
day, babies are our legacy.”
According to city data, the
Rockaways have a higher percentage
of preterm births, with a rate
of 11.3 percent compared to the
city average of 8.7 percent. This
has driven SJEH to fundraise for
life-saving equipment for babies.
Anyone interested in contributing
to the fundraising efforts
can visit ehs.org/bilisoft.
Reach reporter Jenna Bagcal
by e-mail at jbagcal@qns.com or
by phone at (718) 260-2583.
CEO Jerry Walsh, CMO Donald Morrish, Joe Caraccia from Jzanus, CMO Gwen Pinckney, CMO Denise Potts,
director of maternal child health and parents Molly Casiano and Vincent John with Baby Kenzo.
Courtesy of St. John’s Episcopal Hospital
link
/bilisoft
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