SAN ANTONIO -- A local couple is celebrating more than just the new year. Their daughter is the first baby of 2019 in San Antonio.
Prisca Belem Garcia Lara was born to parents Javier Garcia and Marcela Perez. The child weighed in at 5 pounds, 3 ounces at 20 seconds after midnight. Javier Garcia said it was difficult to put into words the emotions he felt with her birth. The girl's mother was in labor for 8 hours at University Hospital.
"It's something that I cannot explain. To say..it's blessing," said Garcia.
San Antonio area hospitals and organizations teamed up to shower the family with gifts, including a $10,000 scholarship from the University of Incarnate Word. The child's father said he attended college and hopes she will get an education.
"I think it's a good idea. I hope she take it and go for it," he said.
While the gifts will help the family, one difficulty will be getting Prisca's older brother used to the new change.
"He is surprised because he is always close to momma. Now, he's looking at the little girl like: C'mon. But he'll get it," Garcia said.
San Antonio hospitals and organizations have given gifts to the first new year baby for 19 years in a row now. This year, the Garcia family received this baby gift package:
- $10,000 scholarship from the University of the Incarnate Word
- Infant car seat and portable playpen from University Health System
- Car seat, booster seat and gift bag from Community First Health Plans
- Gift basket from Baptist Health System
- Gift basket from Brooke Army Medical Center
- Infant activity center from CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System
- $75 Target gift card and Spurs onesie from Methodist Healthcare System
- Deluxe Nursery Center from Southwest General Hospital