SMH's first babies arrive early in 2026

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System rang in the New Year with its first babies of 2026, both born in the year’s first 90 minutes in Sarasota and Venice on Jan. 1.

The first was born at SMH-Venice to Corey Gifford and William Zimmerman. Zaiden Amaris Zimmerman, affectionately known as “Zaz,” was born at 12:50 a.m. Zaz weighed 6 pounds and measured 19.5 inches long. He has two sisters and a bit of family history.

“It’s funny because my brother was the first baby of the year at Sarasota Memorial 14 years ago,” William said.

“We thought we were going to have him on the 30th, but he decided to take his time and share a birthday with his uncle,” Corey added.

Zaz was delivered by Dr. Elliot Santaella-Del Valle with assistance from the SMH-Venice obstetric team.

At the Sarasota campus, Austin Gordon Jr., known as “AJ,” was born at 1:25 a.m. to first-time parents Isabel Castillo and Austin Gordon. AJ weighed 6 pounds, 5 ounces and measured 19.7 inches long. His arrival was an especially meaningful start to the year, coming just weeks before Dad’s own birthday.

“I thought it was something really cool,” Castillo said. “I thought he was going to be the last baby of the year on December 31st, but then he arrived on the first. Everyone was shocked and we all think it’s so cool.”

AJ was delivered by Certified Nurse Midwife Lindsay Carrasquillo, with support from the SMH-Sarasota labor and delivery team.

After giving the families time to rest and bond, nursing teams at both campuses celebrated the New Year’s arrivals by presenting each new mom with a special New Year’s baby basket filled with gifts.

As 2025 came to a close, Sarasota Memorial delivered 17 babies on Dec. 31, with the final baby of the year born at 11:57 p.m. Over the course of the year, the health system helped welcome more than 4,860 babies, including more than 65 sets of twins.