By Emily Enfinger
The Selma Times-Journal

The Vaughan Regional Medical Center staff welcomed Selma’s first baby of 2016 a few hours into the New Year.

Josette Lewis, 22, delivered her third child, Markese Jamal Johnson, Friday morning at 5:15 a.m. He weighed in at four pounds and two ounces and at 19 inches long.

“It’s a wonderful feeling to have the first baby of the year,” said Marcus Johnson, 26, father of Markese. “It’s all joyful.”

Lewis said the delivery was quick. She began going into labor at 3 a.m., arrived at the hospital at 4 a.m. and successfully delivered Markese a little over an hour later.

Carolyn Ratcliff, registered nurse at Vaughan Medical Center said she has worked as a nurse for 38 years and in labor and delivery for over 30 years.

“The first baby and the last baby, it’s the same joy to me each year, each time a baby is born,” Ratcliff said.

She said the hospital doesn’t typically deliver many babies delivered on Jan. 1. Ratcliff said the hospital wasn’t anticipating any more deliveries New Year’s Day.

“In labor and delivery you never know what you’re going to get,” Ratcliff said. “There might not be any more today or there might be three or four.”

Vaughan delivered only one New Year’s baby in 2015 and 2014.