Last modified Wed., January 09, 2008 - 05:03 PM
Originally created Thursday, January 10, 2008

McInerney Sailor Has First Babe In 2008

By Loren Barnes, Naval Hospital Jacksonville Public Affairs

New dad and mom Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class Brandon and Lelia Gallardo hold one-day-old Alyssa Marie as Naval Hospital Jacksonville Commanding Officer, Capt. Raquel Bono, and Tanyia Williams of the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society pay them a visit in the hospital's Maternal Infant Unit. Photo by HN Leeann Lowman

Newborn Alyssa Marie Gallardo kept her mom, Lelia, and dad, Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class Brandon Gallardo up into the wee hours New Years Eve, arriving only 57 minutes into New Years Day 2008. The wait was definitely worth it though. Perfectly healthy and measuring 7 pounds and 1 ounce at 19 inches, she captivated all her visitors and hospital staff.

This included Capt. Raquel Bono, the hospital commanding officer and Tanyia Williams, of the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS). Bono and Williams were on hand Wednesday to present mom and dad with gifts for their first born. Bono presented a special citation officially designating Alyssa as the hospital's first delivery of the year. She also gave them a $50 gift card provided by the NAS Jacksonville Navy Exchange. Williams gave Alyssa her "First Seabag" filled with a blanket and other baby items from the NMCRS.

Alyssa was delivered by Family Medicine Physician Lt. Sonya Brock and she and her parents received excellent care from the hospital's Labor and Delivery and Maternal Infant Unit (MIU) staff. The hospital staff, on average, delivers about 1,200 babies each year and baby Alyssa gets them off to a terrific start.

Lelia commented that "everyone has been very nice and very helpful."

She said such support is especially important as this is her first baby. She added that they have been taking advantage of the MIU's laptops and e-mail services to alert relatives of the new arrival, e-mails complete with digital photos. She said this is very exciting for their parents as this is the first grandchild for both sides of the family. Lelia is from Brunswick, Ga. the daughter of BJ and Bobby Powell, and Brandon is from the state of Washington, the son of Brian Gallardo and Shelley King.

Brian serves aboard the USS McInerney (FFG 8), homeported at Naval Station Mayport. He commented that he was very happy that he was able to be here for Alyssa's birth, noting that he is set to deploy later this year.