A woman from Crystal Lake gave birth to the first baby of 2026 at Advocate Sherman Hospital, with hospital officials saying it was a “special milestone” for their team.
Advocate Health Care said every New Year’s Day brings “hope, joy and new beginnings.”
Hospital officials say that joy is multiplied as its labor and delivery teams welcome thousands of babies each year throughout the region. “And today, families are celebrating the very first arrivals of 2026!”
The first Advocate Health Care baby of 2026 was born at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn at 12:50 a.m. Thursday, weighing 10 pounds, six ounces and 22.5 inches long.
Parents Olivia Gorney and Ryan LaCount, of Chicago, said they are delighted to welcome baby girl Winona LaCount into their family. Winona is the couple’s first baby.
Just minutes after Winona was born, Kolbie Noelle Partenheimer was born at 12:55 a.m. Thursday at Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin.
The girl’s parents are Crystal Lake residents Kelly Davis and Kyle Partenheimer.
She weighed in at seven pounds, 15.7 ounces and is 21 inches long.
Kolbie has two older brothers, 11-year-old Kameron, and 5-year-old Kannon.
“We’re deeply honored by the trust families place in us during life’s most special moments,” said Dr. Frank Belmonte, Senior Vice President of Women and Children’s Service Line at Advocate Health.
“We are so proud to continuously provide safe, high-quality care to families throughout our community, and welcoming the first baby of the year is always a fun and special milestone for our team,” Belmonte said.
No babies were born at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington on New Year’s Day, hospital officials said.
Families of babies born at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville on New Year’s Day did not wish to share their stories.
Nathan Calderon, weighing four pounds and 11 ounces and 18 inches in length, was born at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago at 5:55 a.m. on New Year’s Day.
His parents are Lucia Delgado and Tomas Calderon, of Chicago’s Hermosa neighborhood.
Leia Laine Noble, weighing six pounds and 14.8 ounces and 19.7 inches in length, was born at Advocate Trinity Hospital in Chicago at 10:25 a.m. on New Year’s Day.
Her parents are Deangela Davis and Lawrence Q. Noble, of Chicago’s South Side neighborhood.