Expecting moms get 'special delivery' at Luke

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Lausanne Kinder
  • 944th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The United Service Organizations along with Heidi Murkoff, author of the "What to Expect When You're Expecting" series, hosted a free baby shower May 16, for local expecting military and military spouses.

More than 80 moms-to-be attended the "Special Delivery" event and were welcomed with a gift bag which had essentials for mom and baby. They also enjoyed games, raffle prizes, lunch, a question and answer session with Murkoff, and a book signing.

"It was really nice even for not being a first time parent... they let people with three or four kids come," said D'Anne Carter, wife of Master Sgt. Daniel Carter, 56th Medical Group first sergeant, expecting their third child. "It was [also] a great way to meet people and I was pretty enthralled that we got to meet the author."

Murkoff was first asked by Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit organization providing support to service members and their families, to donate books for an event. Not only did she provide books, she and her husband ended up attending.

"I was completely addicted," Murkoff said after the first event. "Soon after that we were meeting with all the different branches and went to the pentagon and they suggested the USO as a partner."

Murkoff and the USO have hosted 26 baby showers around the globe since then. The next event will be held in Okinawa, Japan, in June.

Not having a military background herself, Murkoff's always said that "motherhood is the ultimate sisterhood" and understands that the military is a family too.

"I think one of hardest parts [of being military] is being away from that network of family and friends... let's face it, no one wants to go through pregnancy alone," said Murkoff. "This is a way of not only me getting to meet [the moms] but bringing them together and making new friends and contacts."

Carter felt the same way.

It's different being with other moms who have a military background and with an environment where we're all brought together, we were able to connect and share experiences and talk about the places where we've been, she explained.

The moms were grateful that such support was given and that all of it was free. 
"I just love to get to know the moms," said Murkoff. "I only have one rule; nobody can leave without a hug."

Along with the gift bag each mom received, a hug and a signed copy of the latest editions of her books.

For more information about USO Arizona, visit their Facebook page or go to http://us.uso.org/arizona/.