According to their due dates, two Cape May County sisters were to give birth 24 days apart. However, their babies had other plans that included sharing a birthday. The sisters, Kerry Player and Jennifer Mercado, arrived at the Center for Childbirth at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center Mainland Campus in Pomona, NJ on separate days last weekend. They both welcomed their babies into the world on the morning of Sunday, October 2.
“We were excited when we found out we were going to be pregnant together,” said Player. She and Mercado noted they have a large, close-knit family, including four other sisters and a brother. “We live close to our siblings, so we already do birthdays and every holiday and event together. It makes it more special when we share.”
Realizing these sisters have a history of sharing almost everything, the AtlantiCare team made sure they had rooms next to each other before, during and after their deliveries. The new cousins, Karsyn Grace Jefferson and Sofia Rose Mercado met each other within hours of being born.
“It was a little sweeter to be next door in the delivery and maternity floor,” said Mercado.
The AtlantiCare staff also arranged for the families to leave the Center simultaneously to start their new lives at home.
“It was such a privilege for our team to be part of caring for these sisters,” said Becky Tomlin, BSN, RNC, clinical manager, Mother/Baby unit, AtlantiCare. “It was an especially joyous coincidence that we delivered their babies on the same day.”
