Heather and Kayla
When Heather and Kayla became friends seven years ago, neither imagined they’d one day share one of life’s most profound experiences: welcoming their babies just hours apart, in the same hospital, after a twist of fate brought them together in an unexpected way.
The two women had been planning playdates long before their new babies were born. They live nearby and their older kids all play together, but the birth story of these two will be shared for years to come. “We actually didn’t think it would ever happen,” Kayla admitted. Their due dates were close — November 8 and 11 — but life had other plans. Both delivered early, on the 3rd and 4th, after a dramatic turn of events.
Kayla was scheduled to deliver at another hospital, but two weeks before her due date, she was involved in a minor car crash. “I got into an accident and was brought to the HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital emergency room. There, I met OB tech Teresa, and I fell in love with her,” she recalled. That encounter changed everything. “I called my husband and my mom — change of plans. We’re not going to [other hospital], we’re going to St. Lucie.” What could have been a stressful situation became a blessing, thanks to the warmth and care she experienced and then wanted to have for her delivery. “Everyone here just feels like a family,” Kayla said. It was a full circle moment for her; she was born at the hospital.
Heather’s connections to HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital also run deep. “We had all our other kids here, and we love it here. My husband and I were both born here too,” she shared. For Heather, returning felt a little like continuing a family tradition.
Both families spoke glowingly of the nursing team. Joseph, Kayla’s husband, summed it up perfectly: “They don’t just check on you and walk out. They spend time with you and make sure you’re okay. They’re attentive, they anticipate what you need. You’re not a number, you’re a patient.”
Now these newborns are already part of a bigger story, one that began with friendship and grew stronger through a special shared experience. For Heather and Kayla, what could have been a frightening chapter became a celebration of life, their friendship and compassionate care. “If I have another, I’ll be back,” Kayla promised. And with plans for playdates already in motion, these families are ready for the next adventure, together.
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