By Anna Gustafson
A woman from Flushing gave birth to New York Hospital Queens’ first baby of the decade 34 minutes after the ball dropped in Times Square, hospital officials said.
Guiming Ren, of Flushing, delivered 8-pound-10-ounce Shirley Chen as New Year’s revelers continued to usher in 2010 throughout the city. Shirley is the second child for Ren and father Xiu Chen, both of whom live in Flushing.
Registered Nurse Kristen Caruso, who took care of Shirley New Year’s Day, said she was especially delighted to have the infant as her patient because Caruso was also a New Year’s baby.
“I am thrilled to be Shirley’s nurse as we celebrate our birthdays together,” Caruso said.
The Flushing couple’s first daughter was born in China 14 years ago.
NYHQ gave the family a $1,000 savings bond, flowers and a teddy bear. Babies “R” Us presented an assortment of gifts and gift cards to the family.
Daniel Adames became the first baby born at a city Health and Hospitals Corporations site in the borough, entering the world at 3:28 a.m. Jan. 1 at Elmhurst Hospital, officials said.
The infant’s mother, Elizabeth Bonilla, 22, of Corona, was in labor for 26 hours before finally giving birth to her first child, the 8-pound-2-ounce Daniel. Adames’ father is Ydanis Adames, also of Corona.
“I’m very excited,” Bonilla said. “It was a great experience, and it’s even better to know he was the first baby born in an HHC hospital. That should bring me good luck.”
Bonilla, who was born in Flushing and grew up in Corona, is currently on maternity leave from her position as an office manager of a Jackson Heights medical clinic. She said she had read a plethora of literature about being pregnant and giving birth.
“I did a lot of reading, and I feel that helped me a lot,” she said. “I advise other mothers to educate themselves about labor and maternity.”
Reach reporter Anna Gustafson by e-mail at agustafson@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 174.
