AdventHealth Ottawa announced the birth of the first baby of 2026 at its Family Birth Place. Mateo, born to Naveah and Michael from Ottawa, Kansas, arrived on January 1 at 3:40 pm. He weighed 6 pounds and 11 ounces and measured 19.5 inches. The delivery was overseen by Dr. Abney and the labor and delivery team.
To mark the occasion, AdventHealth Ottawa Foundation gave a monetary gift to the family, continuing its support for new families in the community.
This event is significant as it is the first time in three years that AdventHealth Ottawa has welcomed the New Year’s first baby at its Family Birth Place. The center had temporarily closed in 2023 but reopened on September 22, 2025, with a fully staffed team, restoring local labor and delivery services to Franklin County and nearby areas.
Since reopening, families have had access to care close to home under physicians including Bridget Abney, MD; Raven Weiss, MD; Haley Lowell, MD; and their staff.
During an August 2025 ribbon-cutting ceremony for the facility’s reopening, AdventHealth Ottawa President and CEO Brendan Johnson said: “AdventHealth Ottawa worked diligently to resume these critical services through deliberate and thoughtful recruiting efforts, even with the challenging hiring environment facing rural communities. We are overjoyed to be delivering on our promise to support patient and family needs in this region.”
AdventHealth Ottawa emphasized its role in addressing maternity service shortages common in rural parts of the United States.
Located in Orlando since its founding in 1908, AdventHealth Orlando operates under current president Terry Shaw. It serves as both a pediatric hospital and a training institution.
