Happy new year to our newest residents
South Florida meets its first babies of 2016
HOLLYWOOD — Just 10 minutes into the new year, Annabelle Pierre made her grand entrance, becoming Broward County’s first resident of 2016.
She wasn’t expected Friday. Her mom hadn’t even packed their hospital bags.
“Amazing,” Melissa Pierre gushed as she gazed at her 7-pound, 2-ounce daughter at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood. “Every New Year’s will be a beautiful celebration in our family from now on.”
Annabelle, named in honor of her father, Jean Abel Pierre, was expected to arrive next week. But a routine Thursday morning doctor’s appointment that showed the baby wasn’t moving as much as she should sent the Pembroke Pines couple scurrying to the hospital for a quick sonogram.
The couple, who are missionaries who travel frequently to Haiti, were told they had to be admitted. “Wow, we didn’t expect that,” Melissa Pierre said.
That meant dad had to go home with instructions on “what to pack and how to pack.” Labor was induced that afternoon. Waiting for Annabelle at home is a 2-year-old big brother.
“A set of each,” their mom said. “I feel like I’m done — a boy and a girl.”
Broward has other new residents to welcome. Lionardo Antonio Miller Burgas was born at Broward Health Medical Center at 12:27 a.m. to Lina Burgos and Chuckie Miller, of Deerfield Beach.
A baby boy was born at 3:13 a.m. at Plantation General Hospital to Omielda Daniel, of Lauderhill.
And Dorothie Grace Charles was born at 11:40 a.m. at Broward Health Coral Springs to Roselande Hilaire, of Pompano Beach.
St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach bragged about the birth of one of the first babies in Palm Beach County. Theirs was a boy: Evelio Miguel Velasquez, a whopping 9 pounds, 13 ounces. He was born at
12:54 a.m. to Ercilia Velasquez and Lorenzo Miguel Francisco, of Lake Worth.
Evelio was due Dec. 18, but decided to take his time.
“For me, it’s a great privilege that God has given me to become a father and that he gave me a little boy,” his father said. “I’m happy.”
“I feel very happy to have my baby by my side,” his mom said. “It’s our first baby, and we’re very happy.”
Other new year babies in Palm Beach County include Everett Khatami, who was born at 2:12 a.m. at Boca Raton Regional Hospital to Bailie Heikkinen and Seyed Hessam Khatami, of Boca Raton. LaBria McDowell was born at 5:15 a.m. at Good Samaritan Medical Center to Abrianna Miller and Lanard McDowell, of West Palm Beach. And Quinson Shawn Adam was born at 5:22 a.m. at West Boca Medical Center to Chandria Noble and Wenson Adam, of Delray Beach.
Kendall Regional Medical Center said they were confident they had MiamiDade’s first baby of 2016. Abigail A. Montero Morales, at 5 pounds, 14 ounces, was born at 12:44 a.m. to Lourdes Morales and Juan Montero, of Kendall.
Some of Miami-Dade’s other early arrivals include Sofia Dulcet-Kruczek, born at 1:12 a.m. at Mount Sinai Medical Center to Izabela Dulcet-Kruczek, of Poland, and Alexander Anania, of New York. Alaina Star Epps, was born at 2:57 a.m. at Baptist Hospital to Cordelia Riggins and Larry Epps, of Miami. And Jesus JuanGonzalez was born at 5:03 a.m. at Jackson South Hospital to Dolores Gonzalez and Mario Juan, of Homestead.