Each New Year’s Eve, the maternity staff at the five Samaritan Health Services hospitals in Benton, Lincoln and Linn counties await the arrival of the first baby to be born in the new year.
This year, Samaritan’s first baby of the new year was born early on New Year’s Day at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis, followed soon by the first babies to be born at the hospitals in Albany on Jan. 1, Newport on Jan. 2, Lebanon on Jan. 3 and Lincoln City on Jan. 7.
The new parents enjoyed a celebratory meal and received a gift basket filled with adorable and useful items for the new baby, prepared by birthing center staff, auxiliary members or hospital foundation at location…