NEWS RELEASE
MYMICHIGAN HEALTH
**********************
SAULT STE. MARIE – Andrew and Marnie Rubinstein traveled the country after college, and eventually landed in Pennsylvania where they would welcome their first child, daughter Allaire. After, living in closer proximity to their families in Michigan proved to be a strong priority. They chose to move to Sault Ste. Marie, Marnie’s hometown. Since arriving in 2019, they have become a family of five, with their youngest two born in the Maternity Center at MyMichigan Medical Center Sault. Both Andrew and Marnie shared that the care they have received has been so great, they would put MyMichigan at the top of any list for maternal care.
The Rubinstein’s son, Jack, was born at the Medical Center in 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Marnie and Andrew didn’t have time to be apprehensive about how COVID might impact delivery because Jack was incredibly eager to meet his parents and sister.
“Jack was my quickest delivery,” Marnie recalls. “It surprised us, but staff was ready the moment we arrived and able to make our experience fantastic. It was very quiet in the hospital at that time, so we received a lot of attention. It was great.”
According to Andrew, the nursing staff provided excellent care during their short stay. Even though they were invited to spend an additional night in the Maternity Center, they chose to go home the following day. They were eager for Jack to meet Allaire, family and friends.
“At that time, protocol was that visitors weren’t allowed to come see us, so we opted to head home with Jack the next day,” said Andrew. “We knew if anything came up, we could count on quick attention to resolve it. It worked out well.”
When it came time for baby number three, the Rubinsteins had become very active in the Sault community. Andrew, annual fund and athletic director at Lake Superior State University, had joined on as a city commissioner and a member of the MyMichigan Health Foundation Board of Directors. Marnie, a real estate agent, was managing rental properties they own. They had also become very familiar with MyMichigan, and MyMichigan was familiar with them. Physician Robert Beckman, D.O., continues to serve as the family’s pediatrician, and Andrea Donmyer, C.N.M., W.H.N.P., was the primary provider for Marnie during her pregnancy.
“I was so happy with Andrea,” Marnie shared. “I was a little nervous not knowing who might be on call when I went into labor because Andrea and I had built such a great rapport, but I trusted everyone at the practice and the Maternity Center fully.”
Obstetrician Kevin Sorah, D.O., helped Marnie deliver daughter Salem in the summer of 2023 with no complications.
“The maternity unit was a lot busier this time than with our son back in 2020,” said Andrew. “Even so, staff was attentive and so good to us. Dr. Sorah was great. I would put the OB/GYN team at MyMichigan up against any team at a larger facility. They are phenomenal.”
Marnie echoed Andrew’s sentiments and has been puzzled by other women she’s talked with who are thinking about traveling for care. “It surprises me to hear others considering going elsewhere for maternal care,” Marnie said. “Allaire was delivered at a large hospital, and it was not a good experience. At MyMichigan Medical Center Sault, we received personal, professional attention. It could not have been better. I wanted to share our positive experiences at the Maternity Center and MyMichigan as a whole with others. Having great care close to home is important to everyone in our community.”
The Maternity Center at MyMichigan Medical Center Sault received a 2023 gold designation from the Michigan Alliance (MI AIM) for Innovation on Maternal Health, the Michigan chapter of a national organization that recognizes hospitals for their efforts to continuously improve quality and safety in their labor and delivery units.
Those interested in learning more about Maternity Centers at MyMichigan Health may visit //www.mymichigan.org/maternity.
*************************
