5th Annual Baby Shower Held at OKC VA.
PRESS RELEASE
May 23, 2023
Oklahoma City , OK — The OKC VA Health Care system held their 5th annual Baby Shower recently for Veterans who recently had or were expecting a baby. Cars lined up in the facility parking lot to attend the drive through baby shower.
“This is really exciting,” said Stephanie McCabe, Women Veteran Program Manager. “Every mom that comes through gets a big-ticket item like a highchair or stroller, and then several boxes of diapers, wipes, baby bag, clothes”
The OKC VA holds the annual baby shower on the Friday before Mother’s Day. From October 1st up until a week before the event all the female Veterans who are pregnant or recently pregnant mothers are contacted and invited to attend. Those Veterans who are invited, received care through the OKC VA and are provided pregnancy care through the Community Care program.
“I thought it was amazing, I’ve been in the VA system for quite a while and this is the first VA that has ever cared this much about women,” said Nida Rubio, Navy Veteran. “I’ve been in the VA system for quite a while, and this is the first VA that has ever cared this much about women.”
Nida will be adding twins to her family soon.
“We are excited but a little nervous,” said Patrick Tieffer, Nida’s husband.
“For them to be able to do something like this its so amazing,” Nida said. “They are like a community, checking up on me and really caring. It’s so amazing.”
Community support made this event possible the last five years. Donations from different community groups including Oklahoma City Elks Lodge #417, Women Rives Chapter Colonel Dames of the 17th Century, Forty and Eight, and American Legion Auxiliary. OKC VA Radiology department made blankets for each mom/baby and many individual anonymous.
“Somewhere somebody in our families did serve and now our country is free so that we can do these amazing events and recognize the Veterans,” said Sara Memmott, Daughters of the American Revolution volunteer. “We raised money for non-medical needs of Veterans and because we are women we were thrilled when we found out they were starting to do these baby showers.”
The OKC VA Healthcare System offers women Veterans comprehensive care including Primary Care, Gynecology, Maternity care, childbirth education classes, and postpartum support Ultrasounds and mammograms, Mental health care and counseling, Lifestyle wellness services.
“A lot our female Veterans have been told throughout the years that they are not in the same kind of ranks as they’re male counterparts,” McCabe said. “We want to set Women Veteran Healthcare apart and let them know how much they are appreciated here.”
Oklahoma has approximately 30,000 female Veterans with only about 10,015 of those Veterans enrolled at the OKC VA HCS.
“Some of these female Veterans choose not to come here because they are weary due to experiences while they were in the military, for example with military sexual trauma,” McCabe said. “We want those Veterans to know that we are here for them, we can have someone escort them through the facility if they are nervous or afraid. Whatever they want to work on in their medical care we will be there for them.”
For more information on Women Healthcare at the OKC VA visit: https://www.va.gov/oklahoma-city-health-care/health-services/women-veteran-care/
