‘Comfort’ & joy
Baby born on Navy ship aiding P. Rico
Two bells sounded aboard the USNS Comfort off Puerto Rico to announce the arrival of 6pound, 8-ounce Sara Victoria Llull Rodriguiz, who sent cheers through the floating hospital.
“I never thought that our special moment would happen here on this ship,” said Sara’s father, Francisco Llull Vera, according to the Navy.
“Everyone has been so helpful and gentle while caring for our baby. I hope this opens the door for those who still need help to seek out the Comfort,” he added.
When Sara was born Saturday, the ship was sailing near the capital of San Juan as it provided medical assistance to the US territory, which was devastated by Hurricane Maria.
Vera said Sara’s 6-yearold brother, Alonzo, and 4year-old sister, Sofia, were staying with family ashore and anxiously waiting to meet their newest sibling.
“They are so excited to meet her,” Sara’s mother, Tania Rodriguiz Ramos, said in a statement Sunday. “It’s a huge blessing for Sara to be here. I owe everything to the doctors and nurses and everyone on board.”
Capt. Kevin Robinson, the ship’s mission commander, said Sara brought a sense of joy to the crew.
“I think the birth of that little girl has reinvigorated the crew,” Robinson said in a statement.
To mark the joyous event, the crew ceremoniously renamed one of its two small boat tenders the “Sara Victoria.”
Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló visited Sara on Sunday and shared images of himself cradling the baby as her doctor and parents stood nearby.
Sara was the first Puerto Rican girl born aboard the Comfort, Rosselló noted proudly.
The last birth aboard the Comfort occurred Jan. 21, 2010, while the ship provided relief in support of Operation Unified Response following a 7.0magnitude earthquake in Haiti, the Navy said.