For Sam Shia and his wife, Maya Cameron-Gilsey, the outstanding care at Beverly Hospital was instrumental in saving the life of their daughter, Maeza. Facing a birthing emergency threatening the baby’s life, the quick thinking, skill, and compassion of the physicians and nurses made all the difference in the safe delivery of a healthy baby with no lasting complications. The staff not only exhibited high proficiency in their emergency obstetrics care, they also dedicated themselves to providing emotional support for the couple after the traumatic experience. “These extraordinary nurses saved our daughter’s life, and they also made us feel like family and allowed us to heal better than imagined,” says Shia. “We owe them a lifelong debt of gratitude and will continue to recommend the care at Beverly Hospital to anyone and everyone.”
To ensure local families like Maeza’s have access to the care they need, Yvonne Wood, local artist and philanthropist, recently made a remarkable $1.5 million gift to jumpstart a campaign updating the newly named Walter and Yvonne Wood Birthing Center. Her gift includes a matching challenge of $500,000, aimed to inspire the North Shore community to come together in support of this important revitalization. “After touring the existing space, I could see how impactful philanthropic support could be,” says Wood. “A revitalization will allow the Birthing Center to match the standard of excellence the hospital has always had.”
Beverly Hospital welcomes approximately 2,000 newborns into the world each year and provides exceptional care that has served generations of North Shore families. A full suite of services for new and expecting families ensures resources and services are available every step of the way from conception to postpartum care. This campaign to update and enhance the Wood Birthing Center will position Beverly Hospital to continue setting the standard of excellent care on the North Shore with a renewed and technologically advanced physical space.
Philanthropy is essential to bringing the Wood Birthing Center to life. Enhancement to critical spaces ensures the high-quality care that the community relies on and allows staff to thrive. Adopting the latest technology and putting it in the hands of well-trained care providers will facilitate improved outcomes and allow for the continued innovation and elevation of obstetrics care at Beverly Hospital. The proposed modernization will touch almost every surface in hallways and patient rooms throughout the unit.
Sam, Maya, and Maeza’s life-altering experience is one of many examples that illustrate how important the Wood Birthing Center is to the North Shore community. Having this level of care, close to home, is a large part of the inspiration behind Wood’s gift. “It’s exciting to think of a rejuvenated facility for all future babies and their parents, where they can enjoy a warm and comforting feeling throughout their journey,” says Wood. Not only is her gift supporting a renewed Wood Birthing Center, but it’s also focused on rallying the community around this important effort. “The matching component of the gift was to provide a way for the community to get involved and be a part of getting to the campaign goal,” says Wood. “It’s my way of getting people together while giving back, which I believe is what makes life rich and meaningful.”
Recognition opportunities are available for leadership gifts. For more information or to make a gift, contact Lisa Zopatti, Vice President, Philanthropy, at lisa.zopatti@bilh.org.
Maya Cameron-Gilsey and Sam Shia with their daughter, Maeza