HOULTON, Maine – Even though eight pound Grey Ridley was born nine days after the New Year rolled in, he was Houlton Regional Hospital’s first baby of 2024.
“Sometimes we have a baby the first of January and sometimes we have one later, but it’s just fun to have the first one for the community,” said Toni Heatherington, a labor and delivery nurse. “We never know when.”
Heatherington has been collecting a huge assortment of gifts for the first baby of the year for 13 years and this year’s overflowing basket looked more like a van full of goodies that included hand-knit and crocheted afghans, hats and sweaters.
“It’s been a project for me. I have so much fun with it,” she said. “I put it to the departments that we have a new years baby basket and that we are collecting. Community members will also drop things off at the front desk. I call all the businesses around town and get them to make donations to it as well. It’s usually a pretty big deal.”
So, when Grey was born at 8:53 p.m.Tuesday night, lots of people were thrilled to welcome the newest member to the community. .
“We are extremely grateful for the experience and to see how amazing this community is with all the donations,” said Grey’s mother, Sarah Porter. “There’s a couple afghans, sweaters, a handmade quilt. These were clearly made with love and they are really special.”
Like most Moms, Porter said that Grey is a sweet, sweet baby and that all her other babies were also sweet.
“He is very content sleeping, eating and just doing his thing,” she said. “His brother and sister are absolutely smitten.”
In addition to such a generous community gift, Porter said that the labor and delivery experience at Houlton Regional Hospital was really amazing.
“It far surpassed my expectations. The nurses are beyond attentive. The nurse that was with me all day actually stayed with me for part of the delivery.”
Grey and his Mom went home on Thursday and he joins his brother Guyer Ridley,6, and sister Giovanna Ridley, 5.
His father, Robertino Ridley, works in the radiology department at the hospital and Porter is a speech pathologist in private practice,
Their New Year’s baby gifts include multiple baskets of clothing, diapers, gift certificates, toys, bibs, blankets, and a pack and play. Additionally, they collect a basket for a girl and a boy and Grey was also given the boy’s basket. The first girl of the New Year will get the girl’s basket.
During COVID-19, Heatherington also started the first baby of the month gift basket and the staff and community also contribute to the monthly basket, Heatherington said.
“I have a closet in Labor and Delivery with totes and I just start filling them up,” she said.
