As hospital begins new life, so does baby Kiley

As nurses worked to unpack boxes of supplies at the newly opened Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center Saturday afternoon, the monotony of moving was broken by the sharp cries of new life.

At 4:13 p.m. Saturday, Kiley McGrew welcomed the employees to their new home as her parents welcomed her into the world.

"It took us seven tries to get her to cry into the intercom. We'd put the phone up next to her, and she'd stop crying," said nurse Maureen Aldrich, who assisted with the delivery.

The 6-pound, 12-ounce Kiley was the first baby born at the hospital, a little more than eight hours after it opened its doors Saturday morning.

"We were just waiting and ready for a labor patient to come in. We had several that were waiting in the wings, but (Mrs. McGrew) wasn't one of the ones we were expecting," said Aldrich.

Kiley was born to Will and Brooke McGrew of Carson City after two hours of labor. The delivery brought an end to three very long weeks for the couple. Brooke went into labor three weeks ago - more than a month before her due date of Dec. 17 - and had been taking medication to prevent the baby from being born too early.

"I have been trying to hold her in for three weeks, and when we saw the doctor he said I wouldn't make it to Sunday without having her, and he was right," said Mrs. McGrew.

Kiley joins sisters Victoria, 5, and Molly, 14 months, who were both born at the old Carson-Tahoe Hospital. Kiley's birth was in stark contrast to the couple's two previous experiences.

"(The new building) is just more user-friendly. I like the fact that the wash station for the baby is right there in the room," said Brooke McGrew.

Will McGrew said, "The views are amazing. With our 14-month-old we could open our shades to a view of the roof."

While the McGrews were surprised that Kiley was the first baby at the new hospital, one family member went so far as to predict it.

"His stepmom was rooting for it the whole time, and we thought no way it would be us," said Brooke.

For being the first baby at the new medical center, Kiley received a plaque and gifts from the hospital as well as several gift baskets from community organizations.

"We feel honored, because we live in Carson City and we want to raise our kids here," said Will.

"Brooke is such an extraordinary mother with all three of our kids. You hear stories about moms punching and swearing at their husbands, but she just breaths and pushes them out."

n Contact reporter Jarid Shipley at jshipley@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.