News

Ghouls just wanna have fun, especially on Halloween, a can’t-miss holiday for children of all ages who love dressing up in costumes and trick-or-treating. But the Verdin Family will have another reason to celebrate every October 31st…the birth of their first child.

Weighing 7 lbs., 11 oz. and measuring 20.5 inches long, Little Julieta Isabel arrived at The Maternity Center at South Texas Health System McAllen at 8:31 a.m. on Friday, October 31, 2025, just in time for the end of the spooky season, making her the first baby delivered at an STHS facility on Halloween.

To help Boo-tiful Baby Julieta celebrate her first Halloween, the staff at the Maternity Center dressed her up as an adorable police officer, complete with an arresting crocheted hat and uniform.

Little Julieta is an All Hallows’ Eve anomaly, as birth rates typically drop by 11.3% on October 31 when compared with the two-week window surrounding the date, according to a study published in the journal Social Science and Medicine.

Staff members at The Maternity Center at STHS McAllen are thrilled to be part of the family’s journey of welcoming their first little monster into the world, working diligently to make the process as smooth as possible.

“It’s always an exciting and anxious time for moms-to-be and their families, and we’re proud that they selected us as their healthcare system of choice,” says Graciela Moreno-Chavana, BSN. RNC-OB, C-EFM, Director of Women’s Services and Nurseries, STHS McAllen. “We’re committed to providing personal attention to every patient and their family while helping deliver their newborns into a safe and spooktacular environment. To do that on a beloved holiday like Halloween is extra special!”

In addition to providing the highest level of individualized care, staff have gone the extra mile to make the day extra special for them with holiday-themed gifts, including a Baby’s First Halloween onesie.

A reflection of its dedication to providing expectant families and their newborns quality, compassionate care, STHS was named a recent Five-Star Recipient for C-Section Delivery, Hysterectomy and Gynecology Procedures. The awards are a testament of the healthcare system’s commitment to consistently deliver high-quality women’s healthcare and placing the organization in the upper echelon of hospitals for OB/GYN care nationwide.