HARRIS – When Sharon Bach and her husband, Francois Huyghe, welcomed their daughter Mina into the world on January 2, they had no idea their newborn would already be making history as Garnet Health Medical Center – Catskills’ first baby of 2026.

Mina was born at 9 a.m. Friday morning, weighing 7 pounds, 10 ounces. Although her arrival was expected around that time, Bach said she was surprised to learn her daughter earned the distinction of being the hospital’s first baby of the new year, having been born on just the second day of January.

“It was exciting. It’s a milestone we didn’t know we’d hit,” Bach said. “It’s fun to be the first baby of the year.”

Bach was joined during the delivery by her husband, her sister, and a close friend, whose presence provided reassurance throughout the experience.

“It was really nice to have familiar faces, people I was comfortable around, during such an important moment,” stated Bach.

In Mina’s first few days, Bach described her newborn’s personality with a laugh as “very sleepy.”

Family and friends were eager for Mina’s arrival, Bach said, noting that she was born at 41 weeks. The wait only added to the excitement and relief once the baby finally arrived.

Following Mina’s birth, the nursing staff at Garnet Health – Catskills surprised the family with a gift bag filled with keepsakes, including a handmade blanket, a onesie, toys, and books to take back home to Barryville.

Looking ahead, Bach said she is most excited to see her three-year-old son, Emile, step into his new role as a big brother and to watch the two children grow and interact together.

“I went into labor around 3 a.m., right after a snow and sleet storm,” Bach recalled. “The drive to the hospital was probably one of the most stressful parts, but we made it there safely and everything went smoothly.”