Thu | Mar 28, 2024

Rotarians help to welcome Westmoreland’s first born for 2023

Baby Rajay and mother celebrated

Published:Friday | January 6, 2023 | 1:08 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
Sherdian Cooke, (centre) with her newborn Rajay Hessing and Khaylie Guscott, (left). Also sharing the spotlight from left are; past president of the Rotary Club of Savanna La Mar, Sheldon Edwards and Demerce Guscott, the Club’s secretary, and incoming pr
Sherdian Cooke, (centre) with her newborn Rajay Hessing and Khaylie Guscott, (left). Also sharing the spotlight from left are; past president of the Rotary Club of Savanna La Mar, Sheldon Edwards and Demerce Guscott, the Club’s secretary, and incoming president.

Western Bureau:

Rotarians joined in the celebration to welcome Rajay Hessing, the first baby born at the Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital in Westmoreland on New Year’s Day, Sunday, January 1.

At exactly 1:50 am, health-care workers delivered and later registered the baby Rajay, born to Sherdian Cooke who lives in the Bethel Town community of eastern Westmoreland

Cooke, who is also mother of two boys, ages 14 and 11 told The Gleaner that her prayers were answered.

“I am happy I got what I wanted, a boy. I love boys, (so) this for me is the perfect gift on this New Year’s Day,” Cooke said as she cradled her bundle of joy.

“I will always remember that in 2023 my third son was the first baby that was born in Westmoreland. This is so nice, I will tell this to my son, so that he can remember this historic moment too,” Cooke said as she gave a gleeful chuckle.

Cooke, who is unemployed, was given a gift basket comprising maternal necessities from members of the Rotary Club of Savanna-la-Mar led by incoming president, Demerce Guscott, as a part of celebrating the safe delivery of Rajay.

He said the presentation to mothers of babies born on the first day of the year at the main hospital for the parish has been a calendar activity for the Rotary Club of Savanna-la-Mar. He noted that this activity was scaled back at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, but picked up last year when restrictions on gatherings in public spaces were eased.

“This is an initiative that the Rotary Club of Savanna-la-Mar has taken on as part of giving back to the community and ‘service above self’,” said Guscott. “We are happy that we could with the assistance of the medical staff at the hospital provide Miss Cooke and her baby with this gift basket.”

albert.ferguson@gleanerjm.com