‘Nice surprise.’ One Tri-Cities New Year’s Day baby came early

The first baby born in 2024 at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland showed up two weeks early.

But Lua Kim, born at 5:30 a.m. New Year’s Day at the Richland hospital, was not the first Tri-Cities baby of the new year.

Trios Health announced that baby Hiraya was born to parents Crystal and Zachary at 2:40 a.m. New Year’s Day. It did not release the family’s last name.

Hiraya weighed 4 lbs, 6 oz. and is 18 inches long.

“We are so thrilled to welcome our newest family member,” said Crystal, in a statement released by Trios. Doctors, nurses and staff at Trios Birth Center took great care of mother and baby, she said.

Lua Kim is the first child of Minbum Kim and Hannah Mo of Richland. She weighed 7 pounds.

“We are so excited that our first born is the first baby of 2024!” Lua’s parents said in a statement released to news media. “She came two weeks early, so it was a nice surprise.”

This story was originally published January 1, 2024 at 7:06 PM.