It appears that the first baby of the year in the Chicago area was born at Swedish Covenant Hospital. Danasha Mali’a Butler was born in Tierra Reed on January 1 at 12:06 p.m. Reed was due to win on Jan. 26, but Danasha had other plans. Both the mother and the baby are happy, healthy and eager to be with the rest of their family.
Hospital staff surprised Reed with a gift basket to celebrate Danasha’s birth.
Mother Gabrielle Walkine and Elgin’s father, Gabriel Brown, welcomed one of the first babies of the new decade at 12:11 p.m. Baby Gemarion Brown is being cared for at the NICU Hospital of Women and Children Hospital AMITA Health Hoffman Estates since she debuted on New Year’s Day. He was born several weeks earlier, weighing 3 pounds, 8 ounces and measuring 16 inches long.
Five minutes later, Sutton Lainey Domont was born at 12:16 a.m. at Evanston NorthShore Hospital to parents Ivy and Zach Domont of Glencoe. Brothers Beck, 4, and Theo, 2, welcomed their little sister, who was 6 pounds, 8 ounces, and 20 inches long.
An hour later, Phillip Benjamin Brown was born at the Illinois Masonic Medical Center Advocate to mother Stephanie Travis and father Benjamin Brown of Chicago. Phillip was born at 12:58 a.m. and weighs 6 pounds and 14 ounces, 19.5 inches.
“This is our first child. We’ve been married two years. We’re glad he’s here,” his mother said. “I hope to be very exhausted all the time and be ecstatic about it.”
Her proud parents told ABC7 that she bore the name of her father and dead grandfather, who was a Chicago police officer for 25 years.
“Phillip is here to tell everyone have a happy new year! Thank you, thank you to the whole city, everyone. We’re all a big happy family!” said his father.
Sloane Jade Gertler was born at 1:59 a.m. at Northwestern Medicine Prentice Women’s Hospital in Chicago. It weighs 8 pounds, 2 ounces and is 20 inches long.
Kate and Jake Boyce of Lockport welcomed baby SJ at 2:59 a.m. to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. SJ is named after his great-grandfather, a 98-year World War II veteran. He was born weighing more than 9 kilos and is 21 centimeters long.
At Hazel Crest’s South Suburban Advocate Hospital, Adaiya Denise Epps was born to Mother Diedra and Father Anthony Epps of Chicago at 4:47 p.m. Adaiya is 7 pounds, 11 ounces and 20.5 inches and is the couple’s first child.
Simrah Akhtar was born at 5:24 a.m. at Good Samaritan Advocate Hospital in Downers Grove, Sana’s mother and Oak Brook’s father Imran. Simrah, who is 6 pounds, 12 ounces and 18.5 inches, joins big sister Amirah, who just turned 1 on Dec. 26.
Finally, Mary and Charles Bernardi of Gilberts welcomed their son at 12:33 to Sherman Advocate Sherman Hospital. Baby Bernardi joins the Owen and Brooklyn brothers and was born weighing 6 pounds and 13 ounces and 18.5 inches long.
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