FRIDAY. JANUARY 25,2008 / NEWS-LEADER COMMUNITY First delivery for Nassau midwife There is a new girl in town. A healthy baby girl. So what is unique about a healthy birth? The baby was deliv- ered byt Nassau County's only mid- the hospital. The phonife -rang; it Ann McGrath and it was had been first "offi- Dickie Anderson cial" baby. ... She was coming. Rojas' third.les as FROM THE she POc CH recalls the day she received her "privileges" from the hospital.The phone rang; its was from a patient she had been following through her pregnan- cy, Diana Rojas. Yes, the baby was coming. Rojas' third. McGrath encouraged Rojas to get to the hospital and she would meet her there. The result? A healthy baby girl, the first of many McGrath will deliv- er. McGrath and her husband, Dr. William McGrath, work together at their practice on North 14th Street. They follow close to a 100 patients at any given time. Diana Rojas, Ann McGrath and baby girl Rojas. Her path to her current pas- sion, midwifery, started with the loss of a friend when McGrath was 16. She was determined to be trained in the medical field. She spent 26 years in the army as an OR technician and later went on to get her LPN and RN degrees. Her final degree is a. masters of science. She is a Certified Nurse Midwife, Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner. What is midwifery? In the United States, nurse midwives are advanced practices nurses who specialize in the prac obstetrical and gynecolog care of relatively healthy women. It is as simple as t of assisting women not on childbirth, but also with p and postpartum care. A m -can be either a woman or Midwives specialize in not pregnancy and can prescr medication. They treat wo from puberty to menopau there are complications or cerns, the mother is refer an obstetrician. In the McGraths' case, that is jus down the hall of their busy prac- tice. Nurse midwives were intro- duced in the U.S. in 1925 by Mary Breckinridge. Using the model developed in England and Scotland, she provided health care for families living in the remote hills of Kentucky. A major life insurance company studied her success and report- ed a substantially lower mater- nal and infant mortality rate. Encouraged, Breckinridge opened the Frontier Graduate School of Midwifery in 1939. McGrath is passionate about young people she works with and expresses her concern about their sexual education. SPECIAL "It is alarming how little our young people know about sexual --- practice and the concequences," tice of she shared. Both McGraths are ical active in the community and offer educational programs to the act youth groups. ly in It has been a long road with renatal lots of class time and practicum midwife time, but McGrath said when a man. she delivered that first baby as rmal an official nurse midwife itwas ibe all worth it. Who stood proudly )men nearby snapping a picture? Her se. If proud husband, Dr. Bill r con- McGrath. red to Dickie Anderson is a local writer Check out her website: st www.dickieanderson.com. Community celebrates MLK birthday Oh, what a weekend of celebration, com- ing together for the same cause. We have come a longway. However, we know we have a long, long way to go. Many communi- ty members came together last weekend, celebrating one of the greatest birthdays ever, that of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Nassau County NAACP branch spon- sored the breakfast Saturday morning at Episcopal Church, SCLC sponsored the commemorative service at New Zion Baptist Church Sunday evening and the Nassau County NAACP Youth Council and .college chapter sponsored the parade Monday after- noon, followed by a peace vigil on the Historic Courthouse steps. Forty years after Dr. King's death, the celebration is getting bigger and better: . Romel Green, president of the NAACP youth and college chapter, was in charge of the parade and a good job he did in getting people involved. There were more than 40 registered churches and organizations in the parade. The Rev. Darien K Bolden served as a grand marshal in the parade, being chauffered by Bishop Terry Pugh. A program after the parade was held at the Martin Luther King Center. President Romel Green was the speaker, giving points on a day of celebration and remembrance. A community divided cannot stand. We must build our community, which we, as a people, represent. For beans and drinks were served after the pro- the Word says "Except gram. The Youth Council and College the Lord builds this Chapter thank all of you for your help and house, they that labor, support. labor in vain." Thanks to both McDonald's, Fernandina For when we come and Yulee, Fernandina's KFC, Wendy's, together, right and Burger King and Sonny's and Geneva righteous, putting God McGowen and Clyde Benjamin as well as back into everything, our branch members who helped with serv- being transformed by ing. Youth Council and College Chapter, be Maybelle the renewing of our proud. A job well done! Kirkland minds, putting old Birthday wishes to Deacon Kenneth things behind, the year Waye, Melinda Walker, Aletha Albertie, .. of completion has gone, Derick Walker, LaShaun Hubbard, Barbara NOW the year of a new begin- Baker, Edith Jackson, Barbara Baker, Edith AND THEN ning is at hand. Jackson, Herbert Chatman, Shanice 9277, 8 So let's come togeth- Sanders, Valarie Smith, Jykeria Richo, -: ,,*, .; -' ."en J4,amfiO n^^ t Wi.., new beginning and do bett : 'Spaulding, Nikita, Rsor,"tariusGeteri;;,: Along with the program came an, appeal Annie Johnson, Earl Coleman Sr., Jessica from the youth advisors, Vernetta Spaulding Williams, and a very special blessing from and Maybelle K. Brown, for our youth to get the Lord as Sister Faye Richardson and involved. We need you, the parents or Brother Joseph Richardson celebrated 60 adults, to sponsor them as members. With years of marriage and togetherness; they your help we will do more. We are also ask- look just as good together today as they did ing our church pastors and congregations to 60 years ago. Also with God's blessing, sponsor 10 or more of their youth to become Mother Annie Lee Johnson will celebrate 94 members. We are the Nassau County Youth years of life Monday. Family and friends will and College Chapter. We want to get out of come together at her home in O'Neil Sunday Fernandina and cover the whole county so afternoon to share their love. You, too, can that we can be bigger and better. come or call her at 261-3935. What a bless- Hot dogs, fried fish with cole slaw, baked ing from the Lord! ENGAGEMENTS Miss Cooner, Mr. Hill Cooner-Hill Ashler Nicole Cooner and Dustin Hill of Gainesville will be married at 3 p.m. May 24, 2008,' at River of Praise Worship Center in Yulee. The reception will follow. The bride-elect is the daugh- ter of Johnny and Brenda Cooner of Yulee. The groom-elect is the son of Skip Hill of Hilliard and Carol Hill of Kingsland, Ga. Conn-Taylor Shannon Michelle Conn of Fernandina Beach and Justin Michael Taylor of Jacksonville are engaged to be married. The bride-elect is the daugh- ter of Patrick Conn of Kingsland, Ga., and Jamie and Janet Deonas of Fernandina Beach. The groom-elect is the son of the late Cathy Taylor and the godson of Harold Bailey of Jacksonville. BIRTHS Rob and Kim Hicks of Fernandina Beach announce the birth of a son, Clayton James Hicks, born Dec. 28, 2007, at Baptist Medical Center-Nassau. The baby weighed 8 pounds 1 ounce and measured 21 inches in length. late Leon Ancel Rembowski of LaClede, Ind. Maternal grand- parents are Judi Ivey of Alma, Ga., and Penny and Jimmie Fender of Fernandina Beach. Great-grandmother is Helen Ramsay of LaClede, Ind. Maternal grandparents are 0 Jessica and Cameron Lee Dale and Phyllis Estes and the announce the birth of a son, .. late Burgess Lewellen of Cameron Eli Lee Jr., born Jan. Fernandina Beach. Paternal 16, 2008, in Badwindsheim, grandparents are Dr. James E. Germany. The baby weighed 5 and Lynn Hicks of Fernandina pounds 14 ounces and measured -. Beach. 19 3/4 inches in length. He joins a brother, Brett Isaiah Lee. MaLisa Fender and Leon The baby's father is stationed Rembowski of Fernandina Beach in Iraq for a year while his moth-i:'. announce the birth of a son, er is waiting in Germany. Gage Ancel Rembowski, born at Maternal grandparents are 8:27 a.m. July 4, 2007, at Baptist Gus Brown of Gatesville, Texas, Medical Center-Nassau. The and Cheri Fisher of Louisville, baby weighed 8 pounds 4 ounces Texas. Maternal great-grand- and measured 22 inches in mothers are Rose Brown and length. He joins two brothers, Edna May Thompson. Hunter Housley and L.J. Paternal grandparents are Rembowski, and a sister, Stefani Buck and Carlita Lee of Yulee. Rembowski. Paternal great-grandmothers are Paternal ~4 epat.D,;r u:: caPate~rnalgranwdparen t r ,V enita . DurhQfYule, and,,, , CathereS ; bwELPE. axi ee o HELPERS The Pink Ribbon Ladies, a breast cancer support group, meets the second Monday of the month at 6 p.m. at Dining Room 2, next to the cafeteria at Baptist Medical Center-Nassau. Miracle on Wheels makes available electric powered wheel- chairs to non-ambulatory senior citizens (65 years and up) and the permanently disabled of any age, if they qualify. Usually there is no charge or out-of-pocket expense, including shipping and delivery to the home by a techni- cian who makes the final adjust- ments. Call 1-800-749-8778 or visit www.dur ablemedical.com. The free Samaritan Medical Clinic of Barnabas Center, Inc. needs volunteers to assist clients applying for long-term prescrip- tion assistance. Volunteers must be available Tuesdays from 5:30- 7:30 p.m. Anyone interested and willing to be trained, call Susan at 261-7000. The clinic also needs volunteer medical and dental professionals, regardless of whether they are retired, have a Florida license or can serve as little as once a month. Those interested in providing qualify- ing, uninsured Nassau County residents with medical and den- tal care, contact Dani Wilson, 261-7000, for details. The Nassau County Stroke Support Group meets from 10- 11:30 a.m. the third Wednesday at Amelia Trace Assisted Living, 1900 Amelia Trace Court, Fernandina Beach. Call Doug Green at 583-3342. Welcome to God's House Classic Carpets & Interiors, Inc. SAbbyCa BUDDY KELLUM Abby Carpelt President 802 S. 8th Street (904) 261-0242 Fernandina Beach, FL 32034 Fax (904) 261-0291 FAMILY DENTISTRY Dave Turner, Inc. FOR ADULTS & CHILDREN PLUMBING CONTRACTOR 474390 S.R. 200, Fern. Bch., FL 32034 Most Insurances Accepted Call For Appointment (AlA between the TJ . Cal Fr-A 2inea Shave Bridge & O'Neil) Dr. Robert Friedman 277-3942 . A1A at Bailey Rd. 27.I -39 MP.. n.. 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