Memorial Hospital and proud parents welcome 1st baby of the year

1-1-11: This is now the birthday of little Liam Ray Beck -- the area's first baby of the year.

As Notre Dame was about to clinch a win at the Sun Bowl Friday, it was game time at Memorial Hospital too: Lauren Beck of Niles was about to have a baby. But the kickoff to her big event had begun Thursday night, and would go into overtime -- 2011.

"My water broke Thursday night at 10 o'clock, and I was in labor for over 24 hours. So it was exhausting," says Lauren.

Coach, and Dad Shannon Beck, cheered from the sidelines. The team had waited 9 months for this day.

"It is, a little nerve wracking because I am very concerned for her and trying to be careful not to irritate her. She did great," says Shannon.

And the score keepers, the hospital staff, were hoping for a New Year victory. Including, nurse Lisa Strong, having three boys of her own, has run this "two-minute drill" before.

"You want to have the first baby of the year. St. Joe, Elkhart, everybody wants to have that first baby. But this year it was us," says Strong.

Liam Ray Beck was born at 12:35 a.m. a 9 pound, 6 ounce ball of joy.

"He is beautiful, he is healthy. That is all we could really ask for," Shannon.

"It is very exciting to have the first baby of the year. So we got that the whole year," says Strong.

The clock has wound down, and the adoring fans capture memories. Memorial Hospital is the victor in 2011.

"This year we got the bragging rights here at memorial," says Strong.

But it is mom and dad who get to take home the prize.

"Happy New Year," says Lauren.

Goshen Hospital missed the 1st New Year's baby by a couple hours. Baby Boy Cyan Jarrard Camacho was born at 2 a.m. on the dot to Rikki Andrews and Corey Camacho,  of Nappanee. Cyan weighed in 6 pounds, 9.4 ounces.

A New Year's babdy didn't arrive at St. joseph Medical Center until 6:13 a.m.