The labor and delivery department at Geisinger Wyoming Valley delivered its 2,000^th baby of the year early Sunday morning, Dec. 22. The milestone is the first time a Geisinger hospital labor and delivery unit has delivered more than 2,000 babies in a year.

Anna Gitanga, 37, of Corona, N.Y., gave birth to a 7-pound, 13.3-ounce girl, Daniela, at 1:59 a.m. Gitanga was visiting family for the Christmas holiday when she went into labor and was brought Geisinger for the delivery.

This was Gitanga’s fourth baby — and the second born at Geisinger during a family visit. The child’s father, Magesa Mwita, planned to pick up mother and baby from the hospital on Monday, Dec. 23.

“I am so happy with everything,” Gitanga said. “Everyone here is so kind and caring.”

The team had anticipated reaching this milestone for several months and assembled a gift basket for the family, according to Melissa Williams, Geisinger Wyoming Valley nursing operations manager.

“We updated the delivery totals daily once we hit 1,900, eagerly awaiting 2,000,” Williams said. “While the unit was very busy, this created excitement to see which nurse and doctor would have the milestone delivery. The team now hopes to end 2024 with 2,024 deliveries.”