North Oaks Medical Center Welcomes New Year's Day Twins
- Category: In The News, Patient Stories
- Posted On:
- Written By: Jaime Caston
Not long into the new year, Sunderia Steptoe of Amite celebrated the arrival of not one but two New Year’s babies!
At 3:19 a.m. on New Year’s Day, baby girl Amira Washington was born; one minute later, her twin brother Amir Washington was born. The twins share the title of “Baby New Year 2023” as the first babies born at North Oaks Medical Center in 2023.
Amira and Amir were originally due on January 4, but they decided to arrive four days early on January 1 to ring in the New Year with their family. The twins were delivered by Obstetrician/Gynecologist Kimberly Hodge, M.D. with North Oaks Obstetrics & Gynecology, who is pictured above. Amira weighed 4 lbs., 10.7 oz. with a length of 17 ½ inches, and Amir weighed 5 lbs., 1.4 oz., with a length of 17 ½ inches.
The North Oaks Women & Children Services team gathered to present the family with a double-sized welcome basket filled with baby care essentials and supplies, including: books, growth charts and receiving blankets; Lion lovies, rattlers, and booties; as well as hats knitted by North Oaks volunteers.
Steptoe is thrilled about the arrival of her double bundle of joy and was surrounded by loved ones to welcome them. She shares, “It was a shock finding out we were having twins, but we were through the roof with excitement."
“It’s a blessing because we haven’t had twins in my mom’s family in 28 years. My mom had two sets of twins — a set of girls and a set of boys — and sadly, she lost them both. So, I feel like my brothers came back, and my sisters came back in my baby boy and girl,” Steptoe continues.
When asked to reflect on her hopes for her babies’ futures, she asserts, “I wish for them to be healthy. And, I hope to instill in them to always keep God first in everything they do and take Him everywhere they go.”
From left are: OB/GYN Unit Staff Registered Nurse Megan McClendon, Sunderia Steptoe (holding New Year Babies Amir and Amira Washington), Well Baby Nursery Staff Registered Nurse Kristine Thomas and Well Baby Nursery Certified Nursing Assistant Revva Grant.
