January 6, 2026
News Release

Contact:
Barbara Laughon
(760) 873-5811 ext. 3415 [email protected]

Northern Inyo Healthcare District Welcomes First Baby of 2026

Northern Inyo Healthcare District proudly welcomed Inyo County’s First Baby of the Year, Cecilia June Rico, born at 3:47 a.m. on Thursday, January 1, 2026, at Northern Inyo Hospital.

Cecilia weighed 8 pounds, 10 ounces and measured 20.5 inches long. She is the daughter of Ciera and Cesar Rico and is welcomed home by big brothers Christian and Cesar Jr.

“Welcoming the first baby of the year is always a joyful milestone, and we’re grateful to share that moment with the Rico family,” said Carolyn Arnold, manager of Northern Inyo Hospital’s Perinatal Department.

Northern Inyo Hospital provides labor and delivery services for families across the Eastern Sierra, offering care close to home for patients who might otherwise need to travel long distances to give birth. The hospital’s obstetrics and perinatal teams supports families throughout pregnancy, delivery, and recovery, with an emphasis on personalized care and continuity.

About Northern Inyo Healthcare District: Founded in 1946, Northern Inyo Healthcare District includes a 25-bed critical access hospital, a 24-hour emergency department, a primary care rural health clinic, a diagnostic imaging center, and a rehabilitation service for physical, occupational, and speech-language therapy. Specialty clinics include orthopedics, cardiology, urology, women’s health, pediatrics and allergies, general surgery, colorectal surgery, and breast cancer surgery. Continually striving to improve the health outcomes for those who rely on us for care, NIHD aims to improve our communities, one life at a time. One team, one goal, your health.