The past and the present came together Thursday afternoon at Stony Brook University Hospital in a celebration of the hospital’s 100,000th birth. The milestone baby Luca Michael Picarella, born Monday, August 17 to Katie and Mike Picarella, was joined by 35-year-old Michael Solomon, who was the hospital’s first-ever delivery on May 28, 1980.
“The significance of reaching this milestone goes far beyond just counting the number of deliveries of deliveries since 1980,” said Dr. Pasternak, the Chief Executive Officer of Stony Brook University Hospital. “While residents of Suffolk County have many options of where to deliver their children, this milestone reflects the many who selected Stony Brook, which includes many who work here.”
left to right: Jeffrey Solomon, first baby born at Stony Brook University Hospital on May 28, 1980, Katie holding Baby Luca, Mike and Gianna Picarella
Picarella, who weighed 8 lb., 9oz. and was 20 3/4 inches at birth, doesn’t know it yet, but he got quite the gift basket. The bundle of joy received a $10,000 from Island Federal Credit Union and a $2,500 scholarship towards tuition at the North Shore Montessori School located in Stony Brook. Other gifts included:
- $500 shopping spree compliments of the Stony Brook University Hospital Auxiliary
- A one-night stay in the Holiday Inn Express’ Pink “Sweet”
- A gift card to Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts to be used towards any ticket purchase of their choice
- A voucher for four tickets to a home basketball game from the Stony Brook Athletics Department
- Knit and crocheted items hand-made by Stony Brook Stitchers: three afghans, a baby quilt, and a onesie with booties and hat
- A collection of products to pamper Mom and a gift card from Cactus Salon (who also sent a stylist to do Mom’s hair and make-up in her room before the event)
- A Wolfie doll (Stony Brook University’s mascot)
- Baby wipes and cotton onesies
Pretty much everything except a brand new car, but it’ll be at least 16 years before he needs one of those. They didn’t leave his big sister out, either. Gianna took home an American Girl Doll, a Wolfie doll and tons of Stony Brook gear.
Stony Brook looked towards the future as well when Dr. Pasternak noted that given the steadily increasing number of deliveries each year at Stony Brook, “We could reach 200,000 by 2040, just over half the time it took to reach 100,000!”
Each birth (or delivery) represents the live childbirth of one pregnant woman, so the 100,000 birth milestone represents many more than 100,000 babies born to families throughout Suffolk County and beyond, as one childbirth could result in a single baby or multiples. Today, nearly 4,000 babies are born each year at Stony Brook University Hospital, the result of 10-20 deliveries each day at Stony Brook.
Submit a photo of your baby or grandbaby to the comments section of this photo on the Long Island Pulse Facebook page. The photo with the most likes by August 24 will receive a $50 gift card to Prime – An American Kitchen & Bar.