UPDATE: A festive wave of excitement swept through St. Joseph Regional Medical Center as six babies were born within just 12 hours during the New Year’s Eve celebrations, marking an extraordinary start to 2026. The first baby, Elias Lee Davis, arrived at 1:38 a.m. on January 1, weighing 5 pounds and 13.5 ounces. His parents, Alexis Barnette Ludwig and Jason Davis from Pomeroy, are already celebrating the joyous arrival of their son, who is recognized as the first known baby of the year in the Lewiston Tribune circulation area.
Nurse Melissa Thompson shared her enthusiasm, stating, “It was a very busy night, a very wonderful night.” The maternity ward was bustling with expectant parents eagerly racing to the hospital, fully aware of the significance of the New Year’s transition. “A lot of our patients, they were racing to get there,” Thompson added, emphasizing the palpable excitement in the air.
The New Year’s Eve festivities included the birth of additional babies, with the second arrival at 3:06 a.m. and the third at 5:32 a.m.. The race for the first baby was thrilling and closely contested, as the last baby of 2025 was born just before the clock struck midnight at 11:44 p.m.. Other newborns included Charlie Douglas Miller, born at 6:15 p.m. and Debbie Danielle Dawson, born at 10:40 p.m. on December 31.
In a celebratory post on Facebook, the hospital expressed its joy: “Welcome to the world, little ones—and thank you to our incredible Family Beginnings staff and providers! Delivering New Year’s babies. That’s why we’re here.” This heartwarming message highlights the dedication of the staff at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, which was recently recognized by U.S. News and World Report as a “2026 Best Hospital for Maternity Care.”
The medical center also earned the designation of a Maternity Care Access Hospital, awarded to only 147 hospitals nationwide that provide critical maternity services to communities at risk of losing access to essential care.
As families celebrate these new arrivals, the community reflects on the joy and hope that comes with each birth. The hospital remains a beacon of support and care, proving its commitment to nurturing families during pivotal moments like the arrival of a new baby.
Stay tuned for more updates on these New Year’s babies and other heartwarming stories as we move further into 2026!
