North Oaks Medical Center Welcomes Baby New Year 2020

Sarah and Kevin Maddox Jr. of Loranger considered themselves well prepared for the arrival of their son expected Jan. 14, 2020.

After confirming their suspicions that they were having a boy at a “touchdowns or tutus” reveal party around the 20th week of pregnancy last year, preparations went into high gear. Drawing inspiration from Sarah’s upbringing on a dairy farm due west of Kentwood in Easleyville, the nursery was decorated in a “love you ‘til the cows come home” motif.

As the saying goes, “life is full of surprises,” and the couple didn’t have to wait very long at all for their son’s birth.

At 12:58 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2020, following 27 hours of labor, Eric James (pictured above with his parents) made his arrival claiming the title of North Oaks Medical Center’s “Baby New Year 2020.”

He weighed 7 lbs., 4 oz. with a length of 20 inches and was delivered by Dr. April Sandifer of Magnolia Obstetrics and Gynecology in Hammond.

Wednesday, Dr. Sandifer and Labor & Delivery staff gathered to present Eric with a commemorative gift basket. Pictured, from left, with the Maddox family is Labor & Delivery Staff Registered Nurse Darian Vining, Scrub Tech/Licensed Practical Nurse Barbara van Vrancken, delivering physician April Sandifer, MD, of Magnolia Obstetrics & Gynecology and Labor & Delivery Staff Registered Nurse Shannon Davis.

The special circumstances surrounding their son’s birth was not lost on Sarah and Kevin, who celebrated their first wedding anniversary Dec. 1, 2019.

“It’s so exciting to have North Oaks’ Baby New Year,” noted Sarah, who is employed by the health system as an outpatient pediatric speech pathologist.

Kevin shared that it’s also bittersweet in that Eric is the namesake of Sarah’s father, the late Eric Lee of Kentwood, who lost his year-long battle with cancer in February last year. Eric’s middle name honors Kevin’s grandfather, James Bass.

When asked to reflect on their hopes for their son’s future, Kevin, who is a self-employed diesel technician, pointed to good health and the best of everything in life.

“I hope he grows up to be a good person like I think we are and treats others with respect,” Kevin remarked.

Gazing down at Eric nestled comfortably in her arms, Sarah agreed and added, “I hope he finds happiness and success in life.”

Ready to help guide Eric on his life’s journey are siblings Owen Maddox, 8, and Mary-Katherine Maddox, 7. They are joined by grandparents: Melissa Lee of Kentwood; Gwen and Joseph McDaniel of Clinton; and Paula and Kevin Maddox Sr. of Albany.

To learn more about women and children’s services offered by North Oaks Health System, call North Oaks Public Relations at (985) 230-6647.