Starr Regional Medical Center Welcomes First Baby of 2024

Pictured are (front, L to R) Kaylee Rodriguez (mother), Kaleb Ethan Mark Berryhill (infant) and Shawn Berryhill (father); (back, L to R) Laura Richesin, RN, Director of Women’s Services at Starr Regional Medical Center; Dana Smith, member of the Heritage Quilt Guild; Jennifer Moates, RN, BSN, Nursery Nurse at Starr Regional Medical Center; April Elkins, RN, Labor & Delivery Nurse at Starr Regional Medical Center.

Starr Regional Medical Center is celebrating 2024 with the year’s first bundle of joy. Weighing 7 pounds and 2 ounces and measuring 19.5 inches, Kaleb Ethan Mark Berryhill, the first child born to Kaylee Rodriguez and Shawn Berryhill of Sweetwater, Tenn., arrived Tuesday, January 2, at 4:07 a.m.

“I am very excited to welcome our baby boy to our family,” said Rodriguez. “The doctors, nurses and staff at Starr Regional Medical Center are wonderful and have taken great care of us. They made this experience special.”

Starr Regional’s Center for Women & Babies is committed to providing high quality, compassionate care close to home for new and expecting parents in the region. The Center offers a complete program of medical, surgical and educational services to accommodate the unique needs of female patients and newborns.

“Our clinical and support staff are committed to creating a safe, welcoming and comfortable environment for moms and babies,” said Laura Richesin, RN, Director of Women’s Services at Starr Regional Medical Center. “We are passionate about helping families in our community welcome their newest additions in a positive and memorable way.”

In celebration of being the first baby born in 2024 at Starr Regional, the family was presented with gifts, including: a quilt from the Heritage Quilt Guild, made by guild members Marti Blont, Janet Meeks and Judy Wiik; gift cards from Athens Pediatrics, PLLC, and Covenant Pediatrics; a gift from the McMinn County Education Foundation; infant blanket from the Starr Regional Auxiliary; and a gift basket of infant care items and gift cards from Starr Regional Medical Center.

Starr Regional’s Center for Women & Babies is located on the Athens campus at 1114 West Madison Avenue. To learn more or to schedule a tour of our facilities, please call (423) 744-3280, or visit the Labor & Delivery page.