May the stars shine down on you all and allow us success for if not a major crime is being committed. - Yvonne

November 12, 2007

Greetings Mr. Katz,

I understand the Labor and Delivery Maternity Care unit of St. Luke’s is being put forward for closure. I am very distressed by this and urge you and the others involved to reconsider the implications of these actions.

I gave birth to my daughter Isabel on Oct 31, 2005 at St. Luke’s. I found the care I got leading up to my delivery and the care I got throughout my delivery wonderful and the care my daughter and I received during our brief stay after her birth to be top rate as well. But it was much more then “wonderful” and “top rate”…. It was also VERY UNIQUE. I chose St. Lukes for the collaborative care of the midwives and obstetricians (in my case Homestyle Midwifery and Dr. Norrell). I was attracted by their track record of providing safe, low intervention births supported by pediatricians and neonatal intensive care unit. I feel blessed that I had the opportunity to experience and work with this warm, nurturing, experienced, and well supported group of individuals. I am proud to say that I had a wonderfully positive and energizing birthing experience that I share with many of individuals and have always been a strong recommender of St. Lukes to others. My dream is that everyone can have the option of this type of amazing birth experience.

Building on this last point I also feel it is critical that the city of San Francisco continue to provide care to all mothers and babies in need – regardless of socioeconomic or ethnic differences. St. Lukes is a critical component of being able to provide this care.



Best regards,



Yvonne Wassenaar