Elmhurst Hospital Welcomes New Year's Baby

ELMHURST, IL — A little less than five hours into the new year, Elmhurst Hospital delivered its first baby of 2020.

Brenda Mata Rivas, 34, and Juan Cervantes, 32, welcomed their baby, Lionel Cervantes, at 4:55 a.m. Wednesday at the hospital. The family lives in Stone Park, a small village east of Elmhurst. The baby was 6 pounds, 11 ounces and measured 21 inches.

To celebrate the new addition, Bensenville Village President Frank DeSimone presented Rivas and Cervantes with a new car seat. Bensenville is north of Elmhurst.

“As a police officer and a father of two, promoting car seat safety is very important to me,” DeSimone said in a statement. “By recognizing the first born baby at Elmhurst Hospital, I hope it serves as a reminder to all parents that car seats save lives.”

In 2018, Elmhurst Hospital delivered 2,359 babies, according to the latest statistics from the state. That number has been steadily rising over the years. In 2007, the hospital delivered 1,566 babies.