Labor of love

Tonnell and Shanele Wilson, of Little Elm, smile with their baby daughter Madison — the first baby born on Labor Day at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano.

Madison Wilson, weighing 8 pounds and 13 ounces, was born at 8:14 a.m. this morning at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano. Madison’s mom, Shanele Wilson, said she was scheduled to deliver on Friday, but Madison was working hard to make sure this holiday would be a labor of love.

“She had other plans,” Shanele said. “I guess you kind of just have to go with the flow.”

She added that her best advice for expectant mothers is to be prepared for anything and “have your bags packed.”

Father, Tonnell Wilson, gave all the credit to his hard-working wife.

“She did everything,” Tonnell said. “All I had to do was drive.”

Labor and delivery nurse Danita Fuller, Chassey Bates, newborn Chase Bates, and Chassey's mom at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth.

Chase Bates, weighing 7 pounds and 2 ounces, was born at 1:40 p.m. this afternoon at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth. Chase’s mom, Chassey Bates, labored for six hours – though the Burleson resident and second-time Mom says it was much easier and faster than her first childbirth experience with her four-year-old son.

Chassey also has a five-year-old stepson, so baby Chase makes three boys in her brood.

Her advice for Moms-to-be? “Be patient, and breathe,” she said, remarking that breathing exercises she learned in childbirth classes helped her through Chase’s delivery.

It may be a holiday that many will enjoy and then quickly forget once their parties are finished and school and work begin again, but for these families it’s a labor of love they’ll never forget.

Josh Hixson, Sr. Public Relations Specialist
Megan Brooks, Sr. Public Relations Specialist