The Birthplace at Lakeland Hospital Niles and Lakeland Medical Center in St. Joseph recently welcomed a new addition: artwork designed by a Spectrum Health Lakeland team member.

Artist and Lakeland respiratory therapist Eric Pleadwell designed the 55-inch tall stork at the request of Tammy Jerz, manager of Patient Care Services, OB, as a fun way to enhance patient experience.

“We hope that families will enjoy taking photos with the stork and sharing them on social media,” said managers Cherie File and Tammy Jerz.

Families are encouraged to pose with their newborn and the stork, upload their photo to social media, and tag Spectrum Health Lakeland.

Cherie had the idea after she noticed patrons taking photos with angel wings on the wall of a local restaurant. That moment gave birth to the idea and set the project into motion.

Eric Pleadwell, who has worked at Lakeland for 30 years in respiratory therapy, connected with Tammy on the project and created the piece within a couple of days.

“Everything was hand drawn to start,” he said. “Then I took the image to the computer and cleaned it up and added outlines.”

For Eric, the connection is both professional and personal. His daughters were born at Lakeland Medical Center, and he often works with newborns on that floor.

“I love that the artwork is part of the Birthplace,” he said. “I’ve always been doing creative projects, but this is the first time my creative work has been used at Lakeland.”

Watch our Spectrum Health Lakeland Facebook page for an upcoming contest to name the stork. Visit the page here