The dawn of 2026 brought a unique celebration to Belize as the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) welcomed its first newborn of the year. At precisely 2:03 PM on January 1st, Cliffarah Ramos, a 27-year-old resident of Belize City, gave birth to a healthy baby girl weighing 7 pounds 5 ounces, named Chosen.
The birth holds special significance for Ramos’s family as Chosen represents the first female born into their lineage in thirteen years. In an exclusive interview, the first-time mother expressed overwhelming joy and relief, stating, “I am just happy that my baby came healthy, strong, and we are both okay. By the grace of God.”
The name ‘Chosen’ was a predetermined decision by Ramos, who explained, “From ever since, even if it was a boy or a girl, I said my baby’s name would be Chosen. I just love the name.”
Medical officer Dr. Mikael Gilharry detailed the delivery process, noting that after Ramos arrived at the hospital at 6 AM already dilated to 3 centimeters, the medical team determined she wasn’t progressing further despite intense labor pains. An emergency cesarean section was performed successfully without complications.
Ramos praised the KHMH medical staff for creating a comforting environment during her solitary delivery experience: “Every worker, doctor and nurse that dealt with me was so sweet… They made me feel comfortable.”
In a decades-long tradition, Santiago Castillo Limited celebrated the milestone by committing to supply diapers and wipes for Chosen’s first hundred days. Marketing Manager Aisha Trapp announced the company would extend this gesture to identify and gift the first babies born in other public hospitals nationwide.
While Chosen was the sole newborn at KHMH on New Year’s Day, arriving four days ahead of schedule, the hospital’s quiet maternity ward contrasted with Belize Medical Associates where baby Melissa Majano was born on December 30th, symbolizing the continuous cycle of new life entering the world.