Pictured from front row, left to right): New Life Center nurses holding the babes include Kelly King, RN, with Hannah Renee Lowery and Sage Renee Burleson; Ashley Hernandez, RN, with Makenly Marie Huntsman and Haidyn Cruz Steed; Shara Parsons, RN, with Aleah DeShae Rigsby and Stephen Howard Anselmi. (back row) Mandy Rock, RN, with Heaven Leigh Grace Dillard and Jakaylyn Lasha’ Randle; Paula Hill, RN, with Aaron Douglas Roberson; Sandra Turner, RN, with Alissa Grace Mathews; Pam Mann, RN, with Dathan Nathaniel Hester; and Jamie Stallings, RN, with Makynnyn Agustus Maples.

On the sixteenth day of December, New Life Center nurses at White County Medical Center celebrated the births of 12 healthy, beautiful babies. As a gift to the new parents, the WCMC Auxiliary gives each baby born in December their own fuzzy red felt stocking and cheery candy cane cap.
“Throughout the month of December, we take each baby into the mother’s room for the first time in their new Christmas stockings and hats,” said NLC Nurse Manager April Fulton, RN. “It is a fun, Christmas surprise, and the parents love to see their newborn wrapped up like a gift. A new life is always a reason to celebrate, and this is just icing on the cake.”
Miracles are delivered daily at the New Life Center; however, December is the exception. According to Fulton, December is the busiest month of the year with an average of 125 babies delivered during the month, compared to an average of 108 babies born in months January through November.
“We have had as many as 18 babies in the unit at one time,” Fulton said. “However, we average six to eight babies in the nursery a day.”
The 12 Christmas babes include: Stephen Howard Anselmi of Ward; Sage Renee Burleson of Higginson; Heaven Leigh Grace Dillard of Batesville; Makenly Marie Huntsman of Bald Knob; Dathan Nathaniel Hester of Searcy; Hannah Renee Lowery of Searcy; Makynnyn Agustus Maples of Drasco; Alissa Grace Mathews of Heber Springs; Jakaylyn Lasha’ Randle of Beebe; Aleah DeShae Rigsby of Searcy; Aaron Douglas Roberson of Bald Knob; and Haidyn Cruz Steed of Bald Knob.