Lois Moiseeff vividly recalls the day, 70 years ago, when she arrived at the brand-new Kaiser Permanente San Francisco hospital on Geary Street. Experiencing abdominal pain, the 21-year-old was quickly taken to the maternity ward, affectionately known as “The Heirport.” It was February 17, 1954, and little did she know, history was about to be made at what would become a cornerstone of healthcare in San Francisco.
“Sure enough, I was in labor,” Moiseeff recounts. Just a few short hours later, she gave birth to her daughter, Cheryl. This joyous occasion held a special significance: Cheryl was the very first baby born at Kaiser Permanente’s San Francisco Medical Center on Geary Street.
Lois Moiseeff, now 91, remembers the excitement surrounding the birth. “It was a big surprise,” she said, “And I felt like a celebrity for 10 minutes.” The local newspaper captured the moment with photographs of the new mother and daughter. Adding to the memorable day, a hospital administrator presented them with an engraved silver cup, inscribed with: “First Baby To Arrive At Kaiser Foundation Hospital Heirport.” This marked the beginning of a long legacy of care and community service at the Kaiser Permanente Geary Street location.
“They were terrific,” Moiseeff fondly remembers about the hospital staff, emphasizing the exceptional care she received. Both Lois and Cheri Mayman, as her daughter is now known, reside in Southern California. Cheri appreciates being a unique part of San Francisco history. “It’s just a random little anecdote that is a pretty cool thing,” Mayman shares.
Growing up, Cheri was well-acquainted with her unique birth story. The silver cup, a cherished memento, was always prominently displayed in their home. “The cup was at my mom’s house in the China cabinet, so I always knew it was there and my name was on it,” Mayman said. Lois also preserved newspaper clippings and other keepsakes from that special day, further cementing the memory in their family history.
Reflecting on her experience, Moiseeff praised Kaiser Permanente’s forward-thinking approach to maternity care. “They were ahead of anybody,” she noted about the hospital’s innovative maternity rooms. Her room featured the then-groundbreaking “baby in a drawer” compartment. This innovative design consisted of a bassinet in a metal drawer connecting to the nursery, allowing for convenient and safe infant care.
“Right next to me was a drawer, and when I pulled the drawer into the room, there was my baby,” she explained. “I’d push the baby into the little room and during the night the nurses would see to her needs.” This “baby in a drawer” concept was revolutionary for its time, promoting breastfeeding and strengthening the crucial mother-baby bond in the post-World War II era, according to Kaiser Permanente Heritage Resources.
As they commemorate the 70-year anniversary of both the hospital and Cheri’s birth, Lois Moiseeff expresses gratitude for the care she received in 1954 and continues to receive today from Kaiser Permanente. “It brought back a time in our lives,” Moiseeff reflected. “And Kaiser was good to us.” This story not only celebrates a personal milestone but also highlights the enduring commitment to patient care at Kaiser Permanente Geary Street in San Francisco, a place where history and healthcare intertwine.
