By: Janeth Vazquez

LIBERAL, Kan. — Southwest Medical Center (SWMC) is proud to announce the arrival of its 2026 New Year’s Baby, Jill Hannah Duran, born on January 2, 2026, at 11:47 a.m. Jill was joyfully welcomed by her parents, Hannah and Roman Duran.

Baby Jill weighed 8 pounds, 11 ounces and measured 21 inches long at birth. She was delivered by OB/GYN physician Dr. Dennis Knudsen, and her arrival has brought great happiness to her family and the Southwest Medical Center team.

To celebrate this special milestone, the Duran family received a commemorative gift basket from Southwest Medical Center in honor of Jill being the hospital’s first baby born in the new year.

Jill is the sixth child in the Duran family and is lovingly welcomed home by her siblings: Vincent, Leon, Elias, Ezra, and Claire Duran. Her proud grandparents are Javier and Maria Moreno. Jill’s name, meaning “youthful,” was thoughtfully chosen by her parents to reflect new beginnings and hope for the future.

Southwest Medical Center is recognized for its exceptional maternity care, having delivered more than 781 babies in 2025 alone. The hospital was recently honored with the Blue Distinction®+ Award from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS), a prestigious designation that highlights excellence in quality care and cost efficiency.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Jill Hannah Duran as our 2026 New Year’s Baby and to continue our tradition of providing compassionate, high-quality care to growing families,” said Amber Williams, CEO of Southwest Medical Center.

In addition to comprehensive maternity services, SWMC offers free childbirth classes for expectant parents. These classes provide valuable education on labor and delivery, relaxation techniques, newborn care, and feeding options, including breastfeeding and bottle-feeding, to help families feel confident and prepared.

For more information about Southwest Medical Center’s maternity services or to register for free childbirth classes, please call 620-629-6328.