Monmouth Medical's Newborn Center Gets $2 Million Donation

By Christopher Sheldon

Thanks to a $2 million donation, Monmouth Medical Center's Regional Newborn Center has expanded.

The center, which provides care for more than 500 babies annually, was renamed the Hirair and Anna Hovnanian Foundation Regional Center after the foundation that provided the donation.

Hospital doctors and officials were on hand Tuesday afternoon for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the center which now features 31 bassinets, four lactation rooms, a parent sleep room and additional equipment and storage space.

One new mom that is using the facility is Christina Russotto, of Marlboro, who recently became the parent of two 25-week premature twins. Her boys, John and Michael, will be staying at the hospital until mid-January at the latest, so Russotto said she will be making the best of the new services at the center.

"This is your home away from while your babies are here," she said. "I'm ecstatic (about the care I've received) and the nurses and doctors are exceptional."

Twenty five babies are currently living at the center, and many of them are premature, according to nurses.