The Mother Baby Center in St. Paul welcomes the first baby born in 2025
Baby boy enters a multi-generation family of United Hospital care team members
ST. PAUL, Minn. (Jan. 6, 2025) — Care team members at The Mother Baby Center in St. Paul helped a St. Paul, Minn. family welcome a baby boy to the world on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025 at 11:25 a.m. – matching numbers. Weighing five pounds, seven ounces and measuring 19 inches at birth, Malakai Txuj Ci Strub is the first baby born at United Hospital this year, and the second child for mother Chee Strub and father Brett Strub. The Mother Baby Center in St. Paul is a partnership between Allina Health United Hospital and Children's Minnesota and located on the United Hospital and Children's Minnesota campus.
If having a New Year’s baby and matching the exact time as the date of birth wasn’t exciting enough, it’s even more special that both mom and dad are Allina Health care team members and work at United Hospital. Chee is a cardiac sonographer with the Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute and Brett is a registered nurse in the Critical Care Unit.
But it gets even better. Brett’s parents and sister – the baby’s grandpa, grandma and aunt – also work at United Hospital! Aunt Bryanna (Bre) Bryant is a nursing assistant in Allina Health Neuroscience, Spine, and Pain Institute, grandpa Randall (Randy) Bryant is an environmental services aide in Environmental Services, and grandma Krista Bryant is a nursing assistant at The Mother Baby Center.
While grandma Krista was not working on Jan. 1, she was doing another important job – watching the Strub’s daughter and awaiting the good news.
"It’s pretty cool," said Brett. "We weren’t planning on being the first delivery of the new year, but we came in at 2 a.m. and they mentioned they hadn’t had one [New Year’s birth] yet." Chee added, "We were shocked up until the end. It was really special that they all knew who we were because Brett’s mom works in the unit, and they all love her.”
“It’s a blessing to know while I was watching my granddaughter, my family was in the caring and capable hands of my co-workers. It makes me proud to hear how exceptional the care they received was and to know that I am a part of a team that makes such a difference for families like my own,” said grandma Krista.
The couple noted they never considered having their baby anywhere else but United Hospital. "Ever since we worked here United is always the place we wanted our kids to be," said Chee. "It was a great experience," Brett added. "All the staff were amazing to us, and it was just as awesome as our first delivery."
When asked if Malakai might follow in their footsteps and work in health care one day Brett said, “Maybe. Everyone seems to follow suit as we have plenty of medical experts in the family. We’ll leave it up to him though.”
Brett also shared a special meaning behind the middle name they chose for their new baby. Txuj Ci (sounds like Su-key), is a Hmong name that means "bright opportunity." Very fitting for a New Year’s baby.
Congratulations to all and welcome to the Allina Health family, Malakai!
If having a New Year’s baby and matching the exact time as the date of birth wasn’t exciting enough, it’s even more special that both mom and dad are Allina Health care team members and work at United Hospital. Chee is a cardiac sonographer with the Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute and Brett is a registered nurse in the Critical Care Unit.
But it gets even better. Brett’s parents and sister – the baby’s grandpa, grandma and aunt – also work at United Hospital! Aunt Bryanna (Bre) Bryant is a nursing assistant in Allina Health Neuroscience, Spine, and Pain Institute, grandpa Randall (Randy) Bryant is an environmental services aide in Environmental Services, and grandma Krista Bryant is a nursing assistant at The Mother Baby Center.
While grandma Krista was not working on Jan. 1, she was doing another important job – watching the Strub’s daughter and awaiting the good news.
"It’s pretty cool," said Brett. "We weren’t planning on being the first delivery of the new year, but we came in at 2 a.m. and they mentioned they hadn’t had one [New Year’s birth] yet." Chee added, "We were shocked up until the end. It was really special that they all knew who we were because Brett’s mom works in the unit, and they all love her.”
“It’s a blessing to know while I was watching my granddaughter, my family was in the caring and capable hands of my co-workers. It makes me proud to hear how exceptional the care they received was and to know that I am a part of a team that makes such a difference for families like my own,” said grandma Krista.
The couple noted they never considered having their baby anywhere else but United Hospital. "Ever since we worked here United is always the place we wanted our kids to be," said Chee. "It was a great experience," Brett added. "All the staff were amazing to us, and it was just as awesome as our first delivery."
When asked if Malakai might follow in their footsteps and work in health care one day Brett said, “Maybe. Everyone seems to follow suit as we have plenty of medical experts in the family. We’ll leave it up to him though.”
Brett also shared a special meaning behind the middle name they chose for their new baby. Txuj Ci (sounds like Su-key), is a Hmong name that means "bright opportunity." Very fitting for a New Year’s baby.
Congratulations to all and welcome to the Allina Health family, Malakai!
About Allina Health
Allina Health is dedicated to the prevention and treatment of illness and enhancing the greater health of individuals, families and communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. A nonprofit health care system, Allina Health cares for patients from beginning to end-of-life through its 90+ clinics, 12 hospital campuses, 14 retail pharmacies, and many specialty care centers and specialty medical services, home care, and emergency medical transportation services. Learn more at allinahealth.org and join us on Facebook, X and Instagram.