Four Generations Tied to Doylestown Hospital

Tiny Karissa James Sleicher entered the world this week with a legacy.

She is the fourth generation of a local family cared for at Doylestown Hospital, hospital officials said Tuesday.

“It’s special knowing she’s the fourth generation born here,” mom Kristen Sleicher said of Karissa, who was born this week at the hospital, weighing in at 7.1 pounds.

The family history started with Mary (Wodock) Evans, Karissa's great-grandmother, who is now 87.

Though born at home, which was not uncommon in those days, little Mary Wodock was brought to the original Doylestown Hospital the day after her birth. At that time, the hospital was located in the borough on Oakland Avenue.

As a grown woman, Mary would go on to become a member of the Village Improvement Association and a board member of the hospital, hospital officials said.

The V.I.A., together with local medical professionals and the Doylestown community, opened the 8-bed Doylestown Emergency Hospital at Pine and Oakland in 1923.

As demand increased, Doylestown Emergency Hospital moved to a new location at Belmont and Spruce in Doylestown in 1939. Originally a 21-bed facility, this hospital expanded to accommodate 54 beds in 1951. And that’s where Mary Evans had her children, Wendy and Jeff.

As the local community grew, a larger facility was needed.

Doylestown Hospital was dedicated in 1975 as a 165-bed hospital at its present location on West State Street.

“This hospital, to me, is the best place in the world you could go,” Mary said. “It’s a wonderful place.”

And it’s where Wendy had her children, Brian, and twins Brett and Drew.

The family's story continues with recent chapters added by Drew Sleicher and his wife, Kristen.

The couple met at James Madison University in Virginia, where the young family lived until last year. Drew and Kristen welcomed their first daughter, Kiera Madison, almost two years ago. Their daughters' middle names are derived from their alma mater.

The couple moved to the Doylestown area last year.

“We always dreamed we could move here if we were able to,” Kristen Sleicher said. Things worked out job-wise for Drew, and the young family is glad to once again call Doylestown home.

Karissa James was born at the current hospital, now a 247-bed facility.

Her parents have already begun speculating on whether she will continue the generational bond to Doylestown Hospital.

“Someday, maybe we’ll welcome the fifth" generation, Drew Sleicher said.