A Massachusetts baby boy was able to get a warm welcome from his grandparents amid coronavirus social distancing, even if they were separated by 10 stories.
Jarrod and Stacy O’Donnell welcomed baby Jack at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston on April 1. Due to extra safety concerns, Jarrod was the only family member allowed on the labor delivery floor with Stacy.
But in touching photos, the baby was greeted from the window by his grandparents, Tod and Judy O’Donnell, who held signs outside that read, "Welcome Jack."
"The thing about the pandemic, it took something that would normally be happy and joyful, and made it, relatively, a lonely life event for them. For all of us," Tod O’Donnell, who had the idea to make the signs, told "GMA."
"We really felt like we wanted to make the effort to go in. We kind of represented everybody. We’re all here. We're all welcoming Jack," he added.
New parents, Jarrod and Stacy, were filled with typical first-time parent anxieties. The last thing on their mind was having to deliver a baby during a worldwide pandemic.
"There’s a little bit of anxiety about [being a new mom], but certainly giving birth during a pandemic and global crisis was not on my list of things that I could have anticipated," said Stacy O’Donnell.
Although the signs were a surprise, the family was able to coordinate the outside welcome.
"We had a red, flashing LED light that helped them find the window, but I didn’t think there would be a sign. I mean, my dad is a pretty creative guy, so I probably should have expected it," he said.
"Also, thankfully, my mother has a very noticeable car," added Jarrod O’Donnell, who said his mother drives a bright orange Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder.
Right now, Jarrod and Stacy are at home enjoying their time with Jack, who has met his grandparents through a sliding glass door. The couple also expressed their gratitude for all the health care professionals who helped them feel safe during an unprecedented time.
"There are so many milestones that people aren’t able to celebrate right now," Stacy O’Donnell said. "It’s just one of those things where we can only control so much and just look at the silver lining: We brought this life into the world and we have such an incredible story that we’ll share with him one day."
