PITTSBURGH — Lauren Palm and Jonathan Palm welcomed Joelle into the world Oct. 9.
She is their third baby, but the first delivered by Dr. Carey Andrew-Jaja, whose performance in the delivery room strikes a chord no other doctor does as he sings “Happy Birthday” to each newborn.
“We didn't know what to expect, but I thought it was very special and made her birthday even more special,” said Lauren Palm.
Her husband agreed, saying, “He truly loves what he does. It was a great experience for us.”
Jaja delivers babies at Magee Women's Hospital, and celebrates each new life with a smile and a song.
"It's a privilege and it's very special. When you deliver that baby you feel like this miracle has happened. There's magic in the air,” he told Channel 11’s Peggy Finnegan.
When Jaja starts to sing it's contagious, with parents and the rest of the medical staff chiming in.
The birthday song tradition started when Jaja was a resident in Pittsburgh in 1976.
His mentor loved to sing to patients.
“He was about to retire and he said I should carry on the tradition,” said Jaja. “He handed it over to me and I've been doing it ever since."
Jaja estimates he has delivered 8,000 babies during his career.
“It's a thrill,” he said. “I am going to miss it when I stop doing it. That's why I haven't retired yet.”
Dr. Carey Andrew -- Jaja and his sweet serenade, a tradition born in Pittsburgh, make us proud to be from Pittsburgh.
WPXI
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