Ghouls (and goblins) just wanna have fun, especially on Halloween, a can’t-miss holiday for children of all ages who love dressing up in costumes and trick-or-treating.
But the Verdin Family will have another reason to celebrate every October 31st… the birth of their first child.
Weighing 7 lbs., 11 oz. and measuring 20.5 inches long, Little Julieta Isabel arrived at The Maternity Center at South Texas Health System (STHS) McAllen at 8:31 a.m. on Friday, October 31, 2025, just in time for the end of the spooky season, making her the first baby delivered at an STHS facility on Halloween.
To help Boo-tiful Baby Julieta celebrate her first Halloween, the staff at the Maternity Center dressed her up as an adorable police officer, complete with an arresting crocheted hat and uniform.
Little Julieta is an All Hallows’ Eve anomaly, as birth rates typically drop by 11.3% on October 31 when compared with the two-week window surrounding the date, according to a study published in the journal Social Science and Medicine.
Staff members at The Maternity Center at STHS McAllen are thrilled to be part of the family’s journey of welcoming their first little monster into the world, working diligently to make the process as smooth as possible.
“It’s always an exciting and anxious time for moms-to-be and their families, and we’re proud that they selected us as their healthcare system of choice,” says Graciela Moreno-Chavana, BSN. RNC-OB, C-EFM, Director of Women’s Services and Nurseries, STHS McAllen. “We’re committed to providing personal attention to every patient and their family while helping deliver their newborns into a safe and spooktacular environment. To do that on a beloved holiday like Halloween is extra special!”
In addition to providing the highest level of individualized care, staff have gone the extra mile to make the day extra special for them with holiday-themed gifts, including a Baby’s First Halloween onesie.
A reflection of its dedication to providing expectant families and their newborns quality, compassionate care, STHS was named a recent Five-Star Recipient for C-Section Delivery, Hysterectomy and Gynecology Procedures. The awards are a testament of the healthcare system’s commitment to consistently deliver high-quality women’s healthcare and placing the organization in the upper echelon of hospitals for OB/GYN care nationwide.
For more information on the women’s services at STHS, including the system’s labor and delivery programs, visit STHSMcAllen.com or STHSEdinburg.com.
About South Texas Health System
South Texas Health System is a multi-facility healthcare system serving patients throughout the Rio Grande Valley. The system includes four acute care facility campuses with specialties in pediatrics, heart and vascular services, maternity and women’s health and trauma services. Inpatient and outpatient treatment for behavioral health needs and addictive disorders is also provided through the system's South Texas Health System Behavioral facility. South Texas Health System is affiliated with the South Texas Clinical Partners ACO, Prominence Health Plan and Cornerstone Regional Hospital. The system operates an advanced Level I Trauma Center at South Texas Health System McAllen, the first freestanding children’s facility and pediatric ER at South Texas Health System Children’s, the region’s only freestanding heart hospital and specialized cardiac ER at South Texas Health System Heart, and seven freestanding emergency rooms located in and around Weslaco, Mission, Edinburg, McAllen, Pharr and Alamo. For more information about the system and its comprehensive services, please visit www.southtexashealthsystem.com.
