March 6, 2019
FAMILY CELEBRATES THREE GENERATIONS AT THEDACARE
Special Shirt Brings a Family Together
NEENAH, Wis. – On a warm July day in 1993, Terry Zeamer proudly put on a t-shirt he received from the birth center at, what was then, Theda Clark Regional Medical Center. He was given the shirt after he and his wife welcomed new baby, Justin, into the world. The shirt read, “Fathers are Special at Theda Clark Regional Medical Center”.
“It was a nice surprise to get a shirt from the hospital,” said Terry Zeamer. “It helped us remember the great experience we had expanding our family.”
Terry and his wife, Bonnie, went on to have four sons in all. Terry kept the shirt for more than two decades. Last week, he passed the shirt on to his son, Justin, as Justin and his wife, Jacki, welcomed a baby girl. Aria Elaine was six pounds, 10 ounces and 20 inches long. The special day was made even more memorable, as Justin was wearing the same shirt his father wore in 1993.
“It’s surreal putting myself into my dad’s shoes,” Justin explained. “It’s all coming full circle for our family. It’s fun to have a special item such as the shirt when we welcome all of the Zeamer babies into the world.”
Terry and Bonnie were overjoyed to receive Aria, their sixth grandchild into the family. They explain their other sons have also worn the t-shirt while having their children.
“Our other son actually had a baby this week as well,” said Bonnie. “So we were blessed with two grandchildren in one week. He lives in Madison and wanted to wear the shirt when he had his baby. So when Justin said that Jacki was in labor, we hurried to get the shirt back here to him.”
The family said they will continue the tradition, of all fathers in their family wearing the shirt when they welcome new babies.
About ThedaCare
For more than 110 years, ThedaCare® has been committed to finding a better way to deliver serious and complex healthcare to patients throughout Northeast and Central Wisconsin. The organization serves a community of more than 600,000 residents and employs more than 6,700 healthcare professionals throughout the regions. ThedaCare has seven hospitals located in Appleton, Neenah, Berlin, Waupaca, Shawano, New London and Wild Rose as well as 31 clinics in nine counties. ThedaCare is the first in Wisconsin to be a Mayo Clinic Care Network Member, giving our specialists the ability to consult with Mayo Clinic experts on a patient’s care. ThedaCare is a non-profit healthcare organization with a level II trauma center, comprehensive cancer treatment, stroke and cardiac programs as well as a foundation dedicated to community service.
