Despite hospital restrictions on visitors, Mike Carpenter, right, of Sweet Home got a chance to visit with his first grandchild, Ellie, who was born to Chris and Adanna Carpenter on Feb. 26. Due to the threat of influenza, Samaritan Health Services hospitals limit visitors in birthing centers until spring to protect pediatric patients, mothers and newborns from flu viruses circulating in the region. Each new mom and pediatric patient are allowed a total of four designated visitors throughout the entire hospital stay, and no visitors under the age of 12 are allowed in the birthing centers or pediatric units unless they are a healthy sibling of a newborn or pediatric patient. Mike wasn’t on the list of approved visitors, which is limited, so he and his son Chris, holding Ellie, figured out how to make it work through the hospital window.
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