Iconic stork statue returns to Sharp Mary Birch Hospital

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The community of the Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women and Newborns is celebrating the return of the hospital’s stork statue after it underwent some repairs.

The hospital’s engineering team carefully helped re-install the 18-foot-tall symbol Monday morning on the top floor of the hospital’s parking structure in Kearny Mesa.

The historic stork was created for the Rose Parade in 1960 and was eventually moved to the hospital in 1992. It was brought down for improvements at the end of last month.

“When the stork came down, people were messaging us, ‘Where is the stork?’ and so the engineering team knew it was up to them to give the stork a nice little facelift, and make sure it’s ready to go back up and stand tall for the next 20 years,” said Lauren Cataudella, a hospital spokesperson.

The stork is now once again visible from State Route 163 near Interstate 805, overlooking new parents and moms-to-be heading to the hospital.

The hospital noted that the color of the bag the stork carries will often be changed depending on the holiday or awareness month.

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