Samaritan Hospitals Welcome First Babies Born in 2025 January 8, 2025 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 in the early hours of New Year’s Day at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, followed soon by the first babies to be born at the hospitals in Lebanon on Jan. 1, Newport on Jan. 2, Albany on Jan. 3 and Lincoln City on Jan. 4. Each new family received a gift basket filled with adorable and useful items for the new baby, prepared by birthing center staff and/or auxiliary members at each hospital. The new parents also enjoyed a celebratory meal prepared by Nutrition Services. Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center The Corvallis hospital welcomed its first baby of 2025 when Charlii Kile-Meyer was born at 12:17 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 1. Born to Markie Kile and Aaron Meyer of Albany, the baby girl measured 20 inches long and weighed 9 pounds, 1.4 ounces. Though her due date was Christmas Eve, Charlii chose New Year’s Day for her arrival. Her mother Markie, who works in the Environmental Services department at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, praised the staff’s support during delivery. “The staff was really nice, they were encouraging and supportive throughout the birthing process,” she said. After resting, the couple shared the news with Charlii’s siblings. The blended family includes Myrah, 11, Josiah, 9, Isabella, 7, and Oliver, 5, who are all excited to meet their new sister. The baby’s unique name was inspired by “Charlie the Unicorn,” a YouTube short film both parents had watched years ago. “We were trying to think of a nickname because we had been calling her ‘Dyno nugget,’” Markie explained. “We thought Charlii would be a cute nickname and it ended up staying.” Aaron works at the Lowe’s Distribution Center in Lebanon. Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital The new year brought an early and unexpected blessing to Aleah and Caleb Vandehey with the arrival of their first daughter, Selah Vandehey. Born on Wednesday, Jan. 1 at 8:29 p.m., Selah made a surprise entrance, weighing in at 6 pounds, 6 ounces and measuring 18.5 inches. “We were very surprised to be the first baby of the new year since she arrived early,” Caleb said. “Her name, Selah, has a special meaning to us as it’s inspired by the book of Psalms, where it signifies a moment of pause and reflection.” Aleah had been in preterm labor beginning at 32 weeks, and after weeks of close monitoring, she was surprised when her labor suddenly progressed. Within just three hours of transitioning to active labor, Aleah and Caleb welcomed their first child. The couple, lifelong residents of Lebanon who met through their church and were married in August of 2023, expressed immense gratitude to God for the safe and healthy arrival of their baby. Selah is welcomed into a large and loving family. Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital Swaddled snuggly and sleeping peacefully, Gentry Gene Mitchell was the first baby to be born in the new year at the Newport Hospital. Gentry Gene, who is being called G.G., arrived at 10:39 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 2, welcomed by parents Haley and Levi Mitchell of Eddyville. She weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces and was 18-3/4 inches long. The new family received a generous gift basket filled to overflowing with baby essentials and toys, lovingly created by the Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital Auxiliary. G.G. is the third new year baby in Haley’s extended family, the new mom said. In 1966, her own grandmother had a new year baby, and six years later her aunt on the same side of the family also had a new year baby. G.G. joins a family with deep roots in Lincoln County, the Steenkolk and Carver families. Her first and middle names honor two male relatives – a great-grandfather and a grandfather. However, G.G.’s two brothers were hoping the newborn could be a brother named Gus. Because of visitor restrictions, the boys, ages 10 and 4, were not able to visit their new sister in the hospital. “But we FaceTimed and they were really stoked,” Haley reported. Gazing at G.G., the Mitchells described their newest family member as “really mellow” and already looking a bit like Daddy around the eyes, with the Carver family chin. Haley is a former Samaritan employee who worked as an OB tech at the Newport hospital until February 2020, and Levi is employed at Georgia-Pacific in Toledo. Samaritan Albany General Hospital The Albany hospital rang in the new year with a double dose of joy. Kim, who works at Samaritan Health Services and is a familiar face in the HR Service Center, and Dan Serra, became first time parents to twin daughters, Lily and Marcy, on Friday, Jan. 3 at 10:04 p.m. The identical twins arrived just 30 seconds apart. “We were completely surprised to be the first babies of the new year,” Dan said. “Kim was originally due in early February, so their early arrival was a surprise.” Lily, weighing 4 pounds, 10 ounces and measuring 18 inches, and Marcy, at 4 pounds, 13 ounces and 18 inches, are both doing well. “Dan chose the name Lily,” Kim shared. “I really liked the name Marcy from Adventure Time.” Dan and Kim are high school sweethearts who have been together for more than 17 years and grew up in the Portland and Clackamas areas. Kim delivered the twins via planned cesarean section, just two and a half hours of arriving at the hospital. “I was pleasantly surprised every step of the way,” Dan said. “We are so grateful that everyone is healthy and happy.” Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital The Lincoln City hospital celebrated its first newborn of the new year on Saturday, Jan. 4, with the arrival of Waylon Kenneth Mann at 11:29 p.m. Ali and Nate Mann of Lincoln City welcomed their first child, who weighed 7 pounds, 14.3 ounces and was 20 inches long at birth. The newborn’s name was inspired by the country singer, Waylon Jennings. Nate is a huge fan of Jennings’ music and they both liked the cowboy-sounding name, they said. As for the middle name, Kenneth, that comes from Nate’s father whom Ali described as “a great person we love so much, and we just wanted to honor him.” The new parents are also new to Lincoln City, having lived here only about a year. They left their home in Northern California and traveled around a bit before landing in this coastal town, where they are now a family of three. Gazing at their tiny son, snuggly swaddled and sleeping quietly, they agree that he resembles his proud papa. The new family received a generous gift basket filled to overflowing with baby essentials and toys, lovingly created by the Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital Auxiliary. All five of Samaritan’s birthing centers received the Birthing-Friendly designation and are home to teams highly trained in mother/baby care. To learn more, visit samhealth.org/Baby.
