First Babies Of 2008: Welcome To The World

By GARY PINNELL | Highlands Today , KATHY WATERS | Highlands Today
Published: January 02, 2008

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SEBRING - The first babies born at Highlands Regional Medical Center and Florida Hospital Heartland Division wasted no time joining the world.

Jennifer Patterson of Avon Park was bringing in the new year at Union Congregational Church when she started having contractions.

A few hours later, she gave birth to Florida Hospital Heartland's first baby of 2008. Annastaisia Marie Patterson was born at 7:28 a.m. Tuesday. She weighed 6 pounds, 9 ounces and measured 20 inches long.

Annastaisia is Patterson's third girl.

Anabella Marie Schuler was born at 12 a.m. at Highlands Regional, making her the first baby born in Highlands County, and perhaps the first in Florida for 2008.

Her parents are Jonathan Schuler of Fort Lauderdale and Devin Capriola of Wauchula. She got a $200 gift certificate from Wal-Mart, a gift of the hospital. Her doctor was D.N. Upadhyaya.