The smallest patient the biggest first for Children’s Unit at Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital

Born early and welcomed with compassion, baby Darla became the first patient in the Children’s Unit at Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital, a partnership between Roper St. Francis Healthcare and MUSC Children’s Health.

Just days after she was born, baby Darla made history without ever knowing it.

On Dec. 1, her mom, Daisy Leal, began experiencing contractions and felt something was different. Darla was not due until Dec. 12, but her arrival could not wait. By the time Daisy reached Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital, she was already 5 centimeters dilated. Things moved quickly from there.

“She came fast,” Daisy said with a laugh. “She was ready. She was done waiting.”

Darla arrived healthy and determined, welcomed by a team ready to care for both her and her growing family. In her first days of life, doctors noted elevated jaundice levels and a concern for right hip dysplasia, conditions that required close monitoring and follow-up. For Daisy, those early days carried the familiar mix of exhaustion, concern and love that comes with welcoming a newborn.

As a mother of three and someone who works in the medical field herself, Daisy understood how important it was to feel informed and supported during moments of uncertainty. Two days after Darla’s birth, Daisy was offered something unexpected.

A move that changed everything

The new Children’s Unit at Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital opened that day, and there was availability for Darla to be transferred and admitted there for continued care. Daisy listened as the physician explained the situation: With more mothers delivering and the unit filling quickly, the timing felt right. “I was very understanding,” Daisy said. “I trusted the process.”

What happened next felt almost surreal. Darla was carefully wrapped and carried as Daisy walked alongside her, moving from the lower floors to the brand-new unit above. Daisy felt something shift. “From the moment they took us upstairs, it was amazing,” she said. “I was shocked, in the best way.”

When they arrived, the inviting atmosphere was immediately clear. “You could tell it was new,” Daisy said. “But more than that, everyone was so welcoming. They were excited and made us feel safe.”

That day, Darla officially became the very first pediatric patient cared for in the new unit, forever linking her family to the space and the team who would care for her. For Daisy, the environment made an immediate impact. “It felt like you’re in the hospital, but at the same time, you’re not,” she said. “It was very homey. As a parent, that makes a difference.”

Care that felt like home

Under the care of Dr. Stephen Ballis, along with nurses Sarah Carter, Sheri Swenson, Meg Burris and Desi Camper, Darla received attentive, compassionate care. Pediatric care technicians Tiffany Fernandez and Jayline Sanchez were a steady presence, helping support both Darla and her family throughout their stay.

“They checked on you, but not in a way that felt overwhelming,” Daisy said. “They did exactly what they were meant to do.” The care went beyond medical treatment. Daisy recalls moments that stood out because they were deeply human.

“One moment that really stood out was when Dr. Ballis changed her diaper,” Daisy said. “That meant a lot to me. It showed how hands-on and caring everyone was.” As Darla settled into the unit, the experience extended beyond mother and baby.

When Daisy’s husband arrived with their daughters, the team welcomed them with the same warmth. The girls were excited to meet their baby sister and just as excited to discover the children’s playroom. “They went to see her first, then my husband took them to the playroom,” Daisy said. “They loved it.”

For Daisy’s husband, that space made a lasting impression. “He said it was something parents really need,” she shared. “They didn’t just take care of the patient. They took care of the family.”

The little details that meant everything

Small details continued to make the experience feel thoughtful and intentional. A snack area for parents. Quiet check-ins that respected rest and privacy. A gift basket that made Darla’s sisters beam with pride. “My girls were so excited,” Daisy said. “They kept asking, ‘Is that for my baby sister?’” Those moments stayed with the family long after they left the unit.

For Daisy, being in the Children’s Unit brought a sense of calm during a stressful time. “I was still worried about her jaundice and her hips,” she said. “But once we were there, I felt at ease. I knew I could lean on the doctors, nurses and techs if I needed anything.”

When Daisy fully realized that Darla was the first patient in the unit, the meaning settled in. “I felt very blessed,” she said. “I never expected anything like this. We’ve already told this story to friends and family so many times already. It just feels like it was meant to be.”

A BEGINNING THAT WILL ALWAYS MATTER

Even Darla’s name felt symbolic. Chosen carefully and inspired by “my sweet, sweet Darla,” it now carries a story her family will one day share with her. When asked what she hopes to tell Darla as she grows older about her place in the Children’s Unit history, Daisy didn’t hesitate.

“I’m just going to tell her, ‘Baby, that was all you,’” she said. “‘That was meant to be.’”

Today, Darla is doing well. Her weight has returned to her birth weight, her follow-up appointments are on track, and her family is settling into life with their newest addition. Looking back, Daisy reflects on how different this experience felt compared with previous births.

“If I had this experience with my first child who was born in Texas, everything would have been so much easier,” she said. “It made such a difference for me as a mom.”

Darla may be too young to understand her place in the hospital’s history, but her story has already touched teammates across Roper St. Francis Healthcare and serves as the opening chapter of a Children’s Unit built with care, compassion and families at its center.

Daisy said best: “It was her. It was always going to be her.”