Starr Regional Medical Center welcomes First Baby of 2025
January 3, 2025
Starr Regional Medical Center is celebrating 2025 with the year’s first bundle of joy, Layton Rhett Akers, born to Haley Woods and Damian Akers of Spring City, Tenn. Weighing 7 pounds and 8 ounces and measuring 19 inches, Layton arrived Wednesday, Jan. 1, at 1:55 p.m.
“We are excited to welcome our baby boy to our family,” said Woods. “The doctors, nurses and staff at Starr Regional Medical Center are wonderful. I chose to have Layton and his siblings here because they take 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 prenatal and postnatal services to ensure mother and newborn get off to a healthy, joyful start.
“Our team of maternity professionals is 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 2025 at Starr Regional Medical Center, the family was presented with gifts, including: a quilt from the Heritage Quilt Guild made by guild member Illene Bryant; gift cards from Athens Pediatrics, PLLC, and Covenant Pediatrics; a gift from the McMinn County Education Foundation; and a gift basket of infant care items 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.
Pictured: (front, L to R) Damian Akers (father), Haley Woods (mother) and Layton Rhett Akers (infant); (back, L to R) Crissy Ellis, RN, labor & delivery nurse at Starr Regional Medical Center, and Dana Smith, member of the Heritage Quilt Guild.