CARIBOU, Maine — As we look forward to 2026, it is a good time to reflect on an unforgettable past year. Cary Medical Center celebrated an extraordinary 2025 in its maternity unit, helping bring 228 babies into the world in our clean, caring and comfortable environment. This represents the third highest total of babies delivered at the hospital in a year in the past three decades!
“The team is both tired and energized with our increased numbers, while also acknowledging that it is not beneficial for Aroostook County families to have to travel so far for obstetrics care with the closure of two labor and delivery units,” stated Jennifer Plante, RN, maternal child primary charge nurse.
“Labor and delivery is an unpredictable specialty with some months ending with ten births and others seeing twenty-seven,” explained Plante. “Because of this, our staff is flexible and willing to work extra and work both day and night shifts to ensure safe and exceptional care for each family.”
While every newborn has a story worth celebrating, this year delivered a coincidence so rare it has become part of the hospital’s legacy. Cary hit the century mark for births on June 20, with the newborn being one half of a set of twins. Nearly five months to the day later, history repeated itself with Cary’s 200th baby also arriving as one of a twin pair!
“It’s the kind of coincidence you don’t plan for and couldn’t script,” said Plante. “Out of more than 225 births, for both the 100th and 200th babies to be twins is truly remarkable and a reminder of how full of surprises this line of work can be.”
“The compassion, professionalism, and teamwork shown by the doctors, midwives, nurses and support staff made what could have been an overwhelming experience feel calm and reassuring,” stated Victoria Clark, mother to twins Addison and Cohen, who were babies 99 and 100 on the year. “Delivering twins comes with its own set of worries, but the team’s expertise gave me complete confidence that my babies and I were in the best hands.”
On Nov. 22 Chacity Gendreau and Weston Robinson welcomed twin boys Hudson and Ryker, marking the 199th and 200th deliveries of 2025 at Cary Medical Center.
“My experience at Cary Medical Center and Pines Health Services was exceptional. From the prenatal care leading up to delivery, to the incredible support during labor and the attentive care afterward, every step exceeded my expectations,” added Clark.
“Delivering babies is special to our team because we have the privilege of being present for some of the most meaningful moments in a family’s life,” explained Plante. “We take our role seriously and strive to provide the best care. Although we are a small rural community hospital, our team is highly skilled and consistently goes above and beyond for our patients. We need to be highly skilled because we can’t rely on specialists to step-in and provide immediate care in complex situations, so we rely heavily on our training, experience and teamwork.”
“Looking ahead, 2026 is expected to mirror 2025, and we are ready and excited for the births to come,” exclaimed Plante. “We are proud to care for families from Allagash to Patten, and even from as far away as the Portland area. Our growing reputation reflects the exceptional, compassionate care our team provides every day.”
In a year full of first cries and proud parents, this joyful milestone for families, caregivers and the community alike is a reminder that it’s moments of connection and coincidence that make a year memorable.
Cary Medical Center is a 63-bed acute care hospital well known for its patient-centered services. We are a community of providers committed to excellence in healthcare and to improving the lives of those we serve. We are actively engaged in advancing the health and wellness needs of people in Aroostook County, including the unserved and underserved. Cary Medical Center and Pines Health Services are equal opportunity providers and employers.
