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Quick Facts:
Springfield
For patients and caregivers at Mercy Hospital Springfield, there’s one song they hear most every single day — “Lullaby” by 18th century composer Johannes Brahms. This famous lullaby can be heard around the hospital anytime a baby is born, and at 12:42 a.m. on January 1, 2026, De’Andre Murry was welcomed into the world as that classic children’s song played overhead. De’Andre was Mercy’s first baby born in the new year, and his parents Jazlynn Goings and Javarus Murry were eager to welcome their new son who weighed 5 pounds, 15 ounces.
Not long after De’Andre entered the world, the Mercy team welcomed the first baby girl of 2026 as Harper Warner was born. Harper’s original due date was Christmas, so her parents, Carina and Mikal Warner, were surprised when Harper decided to wait until the new year to make her grand entrance.
As is tradition at Mercy, the first-born girl and boy both receive newborn gift baskets to help them ring in the new year and their new birthday. While De’Andre and Harper might be the first babies to arrive in 2026, they are certainly not alone. By 2 p.m. on New Years Day, Mercy had already welcomed six babies.
“New Years Day is always such a joyous time for our labor and delivery teams,” said Jennifer Murray director of nursing, women’s and children’s services. “It is a joy to start the new year off by being part of a family’s birth experience.”
