PROUD PARENTS - Staff Sergeant Jason Haislip greets his wife, Sandra, and their newborn daughter "live" from Iraq, where he is deployed.
Just hours after Sandra Rios Mendoza gave birth to her daughter, Kiara Marie, at Cedars-Sinai on October 8, first-time father U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Jason Haislip, who is serving in Iraq, got to "meet" his newborn and see his wife again.
Haislip was able to see the baby and talk to his wife "live" via a special videophone hook-up that Cedars-Sinai arranged in collaboration with army officials.
The virtual meeting was an emotional moment for both parents, as well as hospital staff. David Ghozland, M.D., is Sandra's physician and Maria Rosario was the Admitting RN. Jason had just finished a long patrol, and it was midnight in Iraq (2 p.m. PST) when he and Sandra connected.
Joanne McDonough and Thavaro Soeur in Medical Media received the call from the U.S. Army just before the birth, asking if they could set up the video feed, and they made it happen within a few hours.
Physicians interested in finding out more about setting up a video feed in the medical center can contact Joanne McDonough at (310) 423-0217.
