Boy born early is first baby of 2015 at Rowan Medical Center
Published 12:05 am Friday, January 2, 2015
Novant Health Rowan Medical Center’s first newborn baby of 2015 was supposed to be born in mid-January.
Blake Lee Young’s due date was Jan. 13, but he arrived at 1:17 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 1. He’s the son of Holly Schenck and her boyfriend, Josh Young, of Landis.
Blake weighed 5 pounds, 7 ounces at birth and appears to have blue eyes. He is 18-and-a-quarter inches long and was delivered by Dr. Jessica Blumenthal.
He slept peacefully in his mother’s arm as she spoke briefly with the Post Thursday afternoon. Dad had gone home to take a shower.
Holly said they chose “Blake” for a name because they liked it. The middle name his her grandfather’s name.
She said the pregnancy and delivery went well and that little Blake had been mostly quiet so far. She said being a mother for the first time is a “good feeling.” Blake is also Josh’s first child.
Josh’s mother, Karen Hart, said the newborn sounds like a little mouse when he cries.
As is tradition, Smart Start Rowan delivered a gift basket to the hospital’s first baby of the year. Amy Brown, executive director, said this was her first year presenting the gift basket and that the organization has been doing it for at least 10 years.
Blake Lee Young is held by his mother, Holly Schenck, while his father, Josh Young, stands next to them.
Smart Start Rowan provides support and education for families and children from birth to age 5 while stressing the importance of quality care and education for infants.
Brown said it’s important to Smart Start to give the mom and baby a welcoming gift.
“Since we serve children from birth to age 5, it allows us to get some information to the family,” she said.
Holly didn’t make too much of her son being the first baby born at the hospital in 2015, but it will likely be a story that’s told many times in the years to come.
Contact reporter David Purtell at 704-797-4264.
Phillip Barton, Smart Start Rowan board chair, along with Executive Director Amy Brown and Family Support Manager Mary Burridge, far right, present a gift basket to Holly Schenck, Josh Young and their newborn son, Blake. He was the first baby born at Novant Health Rowan Medical Center in 2015.
