ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Mary Katherine O’Donnell and her husband, Patrick Hackney, of Woodfin, did not anticipate having the area’s first baby of the year. But O’Donnell went into labor around 11:30 a.m. on New Year’s Eve, and Frances Rosemary Hackney was born at Mission Hospital 12:28 a.m., Jan. 1, 2025.
At midnight, Mission’s labor and delivery team brought in sparkling white grape juice to O’Donnell and they all did a little cheers as the new year rang in. O’Donnell said she then pushed for about 20 minutes and her baby girl was here!
“I can’t imagine a better way to ring in 2025 than with my sweet Frances Rosemary,” O’Donnell said in a news release.
The Baby Place at AdventHealth Hendersonville
Amariah Davis and Johnny Jennings, of Fletcher, were not expecting their new arrival until Jan. 10, but the couple’s first child had other ideas.
James Charles Jennings was born at 12:18 p.m. Jan. 1, 2025, at The Baby Place at AdventHealth Hendersonville, the first baby born at the hospital in 2025.
Davis’ regular doctor was out of town, but Dr. Anita Leis stepped in, providing critical care to Davis and her baby.
“The hospitalist did amazing. She was very kind; she did a great job. She delivered my baby safely, and he’s healthy even with the scary moment with the cord around his neck,” Davis said in a news release.
Davis and Jennings named the boy James after Davis’ papaw. who passed away in 2024.
“I hope he is able to live the kind of life my papaw lived, surrounded by loved ones, and that he is a strong hardworking man. He’s going to succeed in life. I’m going to make sure of that,” Davis said in the release.