BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. – Justice Jefferson became a part of Berkeley County history on Friday morning when he was born at 7:15 a.m.
Morgan Sellers delivered Justice, her first-born child, at Roper St. Francis Berkeley Hospital less than eight hours after it opened on Friday. The 7-pound, 8-ounce bundle of joy was the first to be delivered in a Berkeley County hospital in the past 45 years.
“It was shocking,” Sellers said. “I didn’t think it was going to happen. I knew it was a possibility but it happened and it feels pretty good.”
For Sellers, who lives in Cross, delivering at the new hospital means her drive time home will be cut in half when she’s discharged with her newborn.
“He’s finally here,” said Raykuan Jefferson, Justice’s father. “We’ve been waiting on him. He’s a blessing.”
Baby Justice was one of three babies to be delivered at the hospital less than 12 hours after it opened.
At noon on Friday, local clergy, including Rabbi Yossi Refson of Chabad of Charleston and the Lowcountry; Dr. Reshma Khan of Shifa Clinc; the Rev. Dr. Julius Barnes of St. Luke’s Reformed Episcopal Church; the Rev. Noly Berjuega of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church offered blessings from their faith traditions in celebration of the hospital’s opening.
President and Chief Executive Officer Lorraine Lutton said she expects rapid growth in the hospital’s services given the booming population surrounding the hospital campus.
“We are striving to be more accessible and more convenient for patients, and this is a huge opportunity for us to do that,” she said. “Being able to provide care more efficiently to patients who need us will strengthen the quality of care we provide this community.”
Baby Justice and his family were the first patients to experience that care in Berkeley County. Dr. Felix Akinbote, the OB/GYN physician who delivered Justice, said Justice was due a few days ago, so they induced his mother labor shortly after midnight on Friday.
“Typically, first-time moms take up to 24 hours (to deliver), but this was extremely quick,” he said. “We scheduled her induction but I didn’t think she would be the first to deliver because there also was a scheduled C-section.”
In addition to her bundle of joy, Sellers will take home a $150 gift card to Polly’s Jewelry, a $50 gift card for breakfast in bed from Eggs Up Grill, a massage from Salon 120, a bouquet of flowers from the Blossom Shop, a dozen bundtini cakes from Nothing Bundt Cakes, a gift card to East Bay Deli and a gift card from the Famularis. Local businesses donated those items to celebrate the historic delivery.
Local businesses also donated those same items for the delivery of the first baby girl in Berkeley County.
