Cathleen Allison/Nevada Appeal Rueben and Cathlena Lara hold 6-pound, 10-ounce baby Kimberly on Friday after she was born in their car on the way to the hospital Thursday night.
One laboring mother couldn't wait for the opening of the new hospital. She couldn't even wait to get to the old hospital. At about 11 p.m. Thursday, a little girl was born in a car escorted into the ambulance entrance by the Nevada Highway Patrol.
Rueben Lara, of Kings Beach, drove his wife, Cathlena Lara, who was having contractions at her baby shower, to the hospital. Part way there, he flagged down an NHP trooper, who escorted them the rest of the way.
"He ran in to tell the staff that there was a baby crowning in the car and by the time they went out she had already delivered," Dr. Amy Hayes said.
"Mother and baby are fine."
As of Friday evening, Kimberly Lara, who joined joins older brothers Manuel, 4, and Kevin, 3, had the distinction of being the last born at Carson-Tahoe Hospital.
Tara Searcy, on the other hand, is hoping to be among the first to deliver in the new Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center.
She is expecting her third child, a girl, Paton Grace.
"I'm not going to let her out until it opens," Searcy said Friday, then laughed.
Her due date is Dec. 25, but her doctor said she'll probably see her this weekend. Searcy attended the medical center's open house and said she is impressed.
"Maybe I'll be the first," said Searcy, who is eagerly awaiting Paton, with her husband, Charles, 6-year-old Kyla and 2-year-old Blake. The family lives in Dayton.
Hayes, who is also Searcy's doctor, is the obstetrician/gynecologist on call for the medical center's opening weekend. She said all the mothers she has spoken to are excited - they all want to have the first baby.
"I've gotten most of my patients to go over and look at the hospital and they think it's beautiful," said Hayes, who has practiced in Carson City for eight years.
Paton Grace may become one of the first members of the "1st Babies Club," which is a promotion for the newest arrivals at the medical center.
Hospital spokeswoman Cheri Glockner said the first 100 babies will get a certificate and a "1st Babies Club Regional Medical Center" onesie.
Searcy shouldn't be in any hurry. About 950 babies a year are delivered at Carson-Tahoe Hospital. So it could be a month and a half before 100 babies are born in the new hospital.
n Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.
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