See the first babies born at AdventHealth in 2026

As the world rang in 2026, AdventHealth hospitals across the country welcomed some of the first newborns of the new year, moments that brought joy to families, care teams and communities alike.

From Orlando to Chicago and Denver to Kansas City, these early arrivals marked fresh beginnings for families and meaningful moments for the care teams supporting them.

Each birth reflected the dedication of teams providing safe, high-quality maternity care and thoughtful coordination from the very first moment.

"We are forever grateful for the love my birth team and doctor gave us during the most special moment of our lives."

Kansas

At AdventHealth Shawnee Mission in Merriam, a baby girl was born one minute after midnight Jan. 1 to Cody Peratt and Ann Peratt, of Kansas City, Missouri. The baby weighed 6 pounds, 7 ounces and measured 20 inches. The hospital said that the timing likely makes the baby the first born in 2026 in the Central Time Zone and among the first in the country.

AdventHealth also reported additional early New Year's Day deliveries across the region, including AdventHealth South Overland Park's first baby of 2026, Ojinay, born at 12:40 a.m.

At the AdventHealth Ottawa Family Birth Place, Mateo was born at 3:40 p.m. to Naveah and Michael, of Ottawa. He weighed 6 pounds, 11 ounces and measured 19.5 inches.

North Carolina

At The Baby Place at AdventHealth Hendersonville in North Carolina, Gracie Rose Kendall was born at 7:52 p.m. Jan. 1, weighing 7 pounds, 8 ounces and measuring 21 inches long.

Her parents, Morgan Kendall and Levi Kendall, of Fletcher, welcomed their first baby earlier than expected as Gracie was due Jan. 13.

"My grandmother was a New Year's Day baby, and she passed away two years ago," Morgan Kendall said. "Losing her was very hard on our family. Gracie being born on New Year's Day felt like an extra special gift."

Illinois

UChicago Medicine AdventHealth also welcomed its first babies of 2026 in the early hours of Jan. 1 at two Chicagoland hospitals.

At UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Bolingbrook, Ana Mindru and Serghei Mindru, of Yorkville, welcomed their first child, a baby boy named Matthew, at 1:46 a.m. He weighed 6 pounds, 13 ounces and measured 19.5 inches.

At UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Hinsdale, Emily and Brendan, of Brookfield, also welcomed their first child, a baby girl named Hazel, at 2:42 a.m. Hazel weighed 5 pounds, 9 ounces and measured 19 inches.

Colorado

In Colorado, AdventHealth Castle Rock welcomed a newborn named Eliza at 12:21 a.m. Jan. 1, a delivery local media reported could be the first baby born in the state in 2026.

Eliza weighed 7 pounds, 1 ounce and is the second daughter of parents Anna Maia and Filipe Maia, an AdventHealth Littleton medical-surgical nurse.

Florida

A dozen babies were born Jan. 1 at AdventHealth hospitals across the Sunshine State, including one born just seconds into the new year.

At AdventHealth Heart of Florida, Irish Jeyliani Escobar was born at midnight, weighing 6 pounds, 2 ounces and measuring 19 inches long. Parents Jenny Escobar and Oscar Escobar said they were grateful for the compassionate care that they received from their nurse, Marie.

At AdventHealth Zephyrhills, baby Raven was born at 2:11 a.m., weighing 6 pounds, 9 ounces.

And at AdventHealth Sebring, baby Silas was born at 3:49 a.m., weighing 8 pounds, 13 ounces and measuring 20.5 inches long.

“We are forever grateful for the love my birth team and doctor gave us during the most special moment of our lives,” said Joanna Contreras, Silas’ mother.

At AdventHealth Ocala, baby Isaac was born at 6:42 a.m., weighing 6 pounds, 5 ounces and measuring 20 inches long. Parents Michael Cassella and Brianna Cassella said that Isaac is their third boy.

Across Central Florida, AdventHealth hospitals also welcomed several of the first babies of 2026, including:

• Amiri Kingston Smith, born at 12:23 a.m. at AdventHealth Orlando
• Jayden Prince Charriez-Mendez, born at 12:58 a.m. at AdventHealth Celebration
• Hayden Shane Overfield, born at 1:18 a.m. at AdventHealth Waterman
• Lily Jane Henderson, born at 3:37 a.m. at AdventHealth Winter Park
• Ella Annalise Bird, born at 4:09 a.m. at AdventHealth Fish Memorial
• Everly, born at 11:10 a.m. at AdventHealth Daytona Beach
• Adaline Maria Manzanares, born at 11:24 p.m. at AdventHealth Altamonte Springs

The year's first arrivals serve as reminders of hope and renewal and of the care teams supporting families with compassionate, whole-person care through life's most meaningful milestones.

Moments like these reflect the skill, compassion and teamwork behind every birth and AdventHealth's commitment to caring for families across the country every day of the year.

See photos of the babies born at AdventHealth hospitals on New Year’s Day below: