MANAHAWKIN – A West Creek family rang in the new year with a milestone moment as the first baby girl of 2026 was born at Southern Ocean Medical Center.
Ellie Rose arrived at 4:33 a.m., weighing 6 pounds, 4 ounces, to parents Victoria and Nick Rekosik. Hospital staff said the delivery marked the first newborn of the year at the Manahawkin facility, bringing a celebratory start to 2026 for caregivers and family alike.
Leaders at Hackensack Meridian Health, which operates Southern Ocean Medical Center, praised the teams involved in welcoming the new year’s first arrivals.
“The arrival of the first babies of 2026 is a joyous and exciting moment for all of us,” said Robert C. Garrett, president and chief executive officer of Hackensack Meridian Health. He thanked hospital staff for their dedication and extended congratulations to the Rekosik family, adding well wishes for a healthy year ahead for communities across New Jersey.
The birth comes as Hackensack Meridian Health hospitals continue to receive national recognition for maternity services. Several of the system’s facilities, including Southern Ocean Medical Center, were named “high performing” in the 2026 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care rankings released by U.S. News & World Report. The designation represents the highest honor awarded in the annual evaluation.
Congrats to the Rekosik family!
