Morris Hospital welcomes first baby of 2025

Morris Hospital’s first baby of 2025 arrived just minutes after the new year rang in. Baby boy Zedekiah Dillon was born at 12:34 a.m. Jan. 1, the son of Zitlaly Rodriguez and Garrett Dillon of Morris.

Delivered by Dr. Mary Fitzgibbon, a Morris Hospital obstetrician/gynecologist, Zedekiah weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces, and measured 20 inches in length, according to a hospital news release. He has a 1-year-old big brother, Grayson.

With a Jan. 15 due date, Zedekiah’s parents never expected their son would be Grundy County’s first baby of 2025. When Rodriguez came to the hospital on Dec. 31 with mild contractions, she was surprised her son’s arrival was imminent.

“We were not at all prepared for him to arrive so early in the New Year, but we are thrilled he is here,” said Rodriguez of her early delivery at Morris Hospital. “The experience as a whole was fantastic. We are so thankful for Dr. Fitzgibbon and the entire Family Birthing Suites staff at Morris Hospital for being so understanding and helping make this experience a positive one.”

As Grundy County’s first baby of 2025, Zedekiah was showered with gifts organized through the Grundy County Chamber of Commerce, including a storage organizer with baby care items and toy from A&E Storage; baby books and toys from Birth to Five; gift certificates from Channahon Lanes and the Grundy County Chamber of Commerce; a cooler and mug from Financial Plus Credit Union; a play mat with baby care items and a carrier cushion from Grundy Bank;

A tote bag from the Morris Area Public Library; a T-shirt and mug from Mission Bible Church; seven days of meals from Seattle Sutton; a gift basket from the United Way of Grundy County; a onesie from the Contractors Association of Will & Grundy Counties; and a handmade, baby-sized afghan and hat, toy and spoon from the Morris Hospital Auxiliary.

Morris Hospital is designated a Level II perinatal care provider by the Illinois Department of Public Health and a Birthing-Friendly Hospital by the Department of Health and Human Services. Six obstetrician/gynecologists and seven pediatricians are on the Morris Hospital medical staff. In 2024, 593 babies were born at Morris Hospital. Visit www.morrishospital.org.