NEW CASTLE —
Dr. Rifaat Bassaly has delivered more than 7,000 babies during his 36 years on staff at Jameson Hospital.
But the birth that took place there Wednesday may have been the most unique, and it was certainly cause for a celebration times three.
On July 28, 2010, at 5:42 p.m., Avery Grace Tomsky entered the world almost 25 years to the minute after her mother, Elyse Dzemyan Tomsky, who was delivered by Dr. Bassaly on July 28, 1985, at 5:48 p.m. And they share a birthday with their doctor, who was born July 28, 1942, in Egypt.
“It was a memorable day and I enjoyed every minute of it,” said Bassaly.
There were choruses of ‘Happy Birthday’ in the delivery room. “We had to sing it three times,” Bassaly said.
“Consider the odds,” the doctor said. “First to deliver a baby of someone who I’d delivered. That’s happened many times, but then on the same date as the mother 25 years later at almost the exact time. And on my birthday.”
“You delivered me, too,” chimed in the baby’s father, Eugene Tomsky, 33.
Bassaly, 68, said he feels more like 48 and doesn’t plan to retire anytime soon. “As long as I have good health and steady hands, I’ll keep doing what I do.”
He canceled a scheduled vacation to be there for Avery’s arrival.
The whole thing was deja vu for Cindy Dzemyan, who was there for the birth of her granddaughter, albeit in a different capacity than when she gave birth to Elyse with help from Dr. Bassaly.
“I kept thinking that it would be so special if the baby were born on July 28, but I never thought it would happen,” said Dzemyan, who previously had worked for 20 years at Jameson in the nursery.
Avery Grace weighed seven pounds, three ounces and was 20 inches long. She came two weeks ahead of her Aug. 8 due date.
After two miscarriages, the couple was anxious as they awaited the arrival of their first child.
“It was so emotional to see her for the first time,” said Eugene, a 1994 graduate of New Castle High School. “I couldn’t believe how beautiful she was. It was a life-changing moment.”
Elyse described the initial moments of motherhood as being surreal.
Eugene looks forward to sharing his love of the outdoors with Avery. “It’s fun to think of so many firsts that she will have."
Eugene was in the Navy and lived in Los Angeles, where he worked as a chef at the Hollywood House of Blues for four years. He went to cooking school in Pasadena.
He returned home and met Elyse, a 2003 graduate of New Castle High School. Elyse had been a classmate of Eugene’s sister.
After they married three years ago, the couple moved to Cincinnati for a few months before a desire to be closer to their families pulled them back to New Castle.
Elyse is a hairdresser at Chameleon’s, where she has worked since 2005, except for the time in Cincinnati. Eugene is the executive chef at Jergels Restaurant in Ellwood City, where his specialty is jambalaya. He plans to come up with a new creation in honor of his daughter.
Elyse said most of her birthday celebrations were pool parties because of the weather and she can’t wait for next July 28. “It’s going to be very special for the rest of my life.”
Dzemyan said the family has taken annual vacations to the Outer Banks for many years, missing only twice. This year because of Avery’s arrival and in 1985 when Elyse was born.
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Related Photos
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David Burcham/NEWS Dr. Rifaat Bassaly, Elyse Dzemyan Tomsky and newborn Avery Grace Tomsky share July 28 birthdays. Bassaly delivered Elyse in 1985 and Avery Grace was born Wednesday.
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David Burcham/NEWS Dr. Rifaat Bassaly has a connection with the Tomsky family. He delivered Eugene and Elyse Dzemyan Tomsky and their daughter, Avery Grace Tomsky. Grandmother Cindy Dzemyan worked in the nursery at Jameson Hospital for 20 years and delivered Elyse 25 years to the day from Avery’s birth — the same day as Bassaly’s birthday.
Discussion
Dr. Bassaly shares birthday with new mother, daughter
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