Sept. 2, 2011 -- FORT BELVOIR, Va. -- The Fort Belvoir medical family celebrated two historic debuts this week as the last baby was born at DeWitt Army Community Hospital and the first baby arrived at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital on its opening day.
Cole Harris, born at 4:45 a.m. Saturday, and Bethany Beauchan, born at 4:33 p.m. Wednesday, became instant celebrities among staff who delivered and cared for both babies at the two different facilities.
Cole, who was born during the downpour of Hurricane Irene, is son to Air Force Lt. Col. Tom Davis, an F-15 pilot by trade, and mom, Michelle.
"Considering it was a hurricane day and staff was getting ready to move to the new hospital, it was relatively quiet and everyone did a great job," Tom said.
Michelle drove the eight-minute journey to DeWitt Friday night while her husband stayed behind until he could find a babysitter for big brother, Jake, who turns one later this month. Staff performed an ultrasound and saw baby Cole was in position for his grand introduction.
"The staff has always been great, and I'm sure it will continue to be great," Michelle said.
Four days after Cole's birth, the medical staff who delivered him had just completed its move to the new hospital when Air Force Lt. Col. Brandon Beauchan, an intelligence officer, and wife Dyan arrived at the entrance having never seen the new hospital and after spending 10 hours at Potomac the day before.
Hospital "greeters" met Dyan at the lobby. While Brandon parked the car, they offered her a wheelchair and ushered her up to Labor and Delivery. "I had to get in in time for the epidural," she said as she laughed. "At other hospitals, you check in the ER, they give you a bracelet, they send you to registration, fill a bunch of paperwork, they cut off the bracelet, give you another bracelet, then send you to Labor and Delivery."
Brandon said that he didn't think Dyan felt like she was just a number during Bethany's birth.
"I saw the sign coming in that said 'world-class', and that's how best to describe our experience," Brandon said. "I mean Potomac is really nice.
"But this place is brand new," interjected Bethany's 8-year-old sister, Brynne.
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