Ashley and Barrett Ross with 2026's first baby, Murphy Vera Ross and Dr. Megan Jewell.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA – Barton Health welcomed the first baby of the New Year on January 6 at 2:36 p.m. Murphy Vera Ross, female, weighing 7 pounds, 11 ounces, and measuring 20 inches long, was born to Ashley Brier Ross and Barrett Ross of South Lake Tahoe, CA. Dr. Megan Jewell, board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist (OB/GYN) led the care team during the delivery at Barton Memorial Hospital’s Family Birthing Center.
Both parents shared how meaningful it was to welcome their daughter at Barton Health, a place that is not just their workplace but also feels like an extension of their family. “Welcoming our daughter at Barton means more than just a place of birth; it means beginning her life surrounded by a team that feels like family. We are deeply grateful for the care and support that made this experience so special.” Ashley is a registered nurse on Barton’s surgical services team, and Barrett works as a nurse practitioner in the Barton Community Health Center. They have a 3-year-old daughter, Baldwin, who was also born at Barton Memorial Hospital.
The family was presented with a wagon filled with gift items donated by local businesses and organizations valued more than $2,100. This ongoing tradition unites the community in celebrating the first baby of the New Year.
Barton extends a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to the many local merchants who contributed to the family’s gift: Bert's Cafe, El Dorado Savings Bank, South Tahoe Now, Tahoe Knight Monsters Hockey, Toy Maniacs, and Thran’s Flowers. Additional donations from Barton Health teams include Barton OB/GYN, Family Birthing Center, Pediatrics, Education, Performance, Plastic Surgery, Public Relations, Human Resources, and the Barton Auxiliary.
About Barton Health’s Family Birthing Center
Located in Barton Memorial Hospital in South Lake Tahoe, Barton Health’s Family Birthing Center earned top designations for their commitment to high-quality maternity care including the Baby-Friendly designation from Baby-Friendly USA as well as once again being named on Cal Hospital Compare’s Maternity Care Honor Roll reflecting top-tier outcomes with c-sections, unexpected outcomes, and exclusive breast milk feeding. The Barton Family Birthing Center is composed of registered nurses, lactation consultants, board-certified obstetricians and pediatricians, offering families private suites for labor, delivery, and recovery.
