South suburban families ring in the new year with new babies

Families at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital, Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Franciscan Health Olympia Fields and Silver Cross Hospital welcomed new babies just hours into the 2024 year.

Franklin Matthew Lale was born at 3:10 a.m. Jan. 1, which made him the first baby born at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital in 2024. He weighs 8 pounds and 4.9 ounces.

Samantha Lale, Franklin’s mother, said he was due Jan. 4, which is the same day as his grandmother’s birthday, but he came a few days early.

Lale, of Oak Forest, said she is a nurse and planned to work New Year’s Eve but called off her shift because something didn’t “feel right,” she said.

After pushing for two hours, Lale said she had to have a c-section. Franklin was taken to Advocate Christ because he was having some trouble breathing, but Lale said Tuesday he was doing much better.

“He made quite the entrance,” Lale said. “Dad stayed with him last night. He’s doing better. I just can’t wait to take him home.”

Franklin has two older brothers, ages 4 and 2, and they look forward to meeting their younger brother, Lale said. She’ll never forget the sweet moment her sons kissed her belly before she left for the hospital.

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“They knew there was a baby coming, and they are excited to meet him,” Lale said.

Kiara and Robert Rhodes, of Crete, welcomed their daughter Rue at 5:05 a.m. Jan. 1 at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the hospital.

Rue weighs 4 pounds, 9 ounces and measures 17 inches. She has two older brothers, Robert and Kityi, according to the hospital.

Seriah Dobbey and Alan Cooper, of Park Forest, welcomed their daughter Alana at 2:13 p.m. Jan. 1, the first baby this year at Franciscan Health Olympia Fields.

Alana weights 3 pounds and 13 ounces and measures 17.5 inches.

At Silver Cross, a baby girl was born at 2:08 a.m. Jan. 1, making her the first baby born in 2024 at the New Lenox hospital, said spokeswoman Debra Robbins.

akukulka@chicagotribune.com