GREENFIELD — Ever sat in a vehicle during a trip from New Jersey to western Massachusetts? How about while in labor?

Well, Christy O’Donnell has, and the result was the first baby born at Baystate Franklin Medical Center in 2024.

“It was a surprise, that’s for sure,” she said via a Zoom call from her hospital bed at The Birthplace at Baystate Franklin on Tuesday, a day after giving birth. “She was … 24 days early.”

O’Donnell was visiting her family in New Jersey with her husband, Brian Huyler, and 3½-year-old son Logan, when her water broke.

“So we had to safely, but quickly, drive three hours north to the hospital,” Huyler said. “We could have stopped somewhere on the interstate but we kind of didn’t want to do that.”

The baby, named Brooke Lynn, was born at 6 pounds, 6 ounces and measuring 20 inches long. She was born by caesarean section at 6:15 p.m. on Monday.

O’Donnell, 35, said the timing was particularly special because her mother, who died three years ago, was also a New Year’s Day baby. Brooke Lynn takes her middle name from her maternal grandmother. O’Donnell and Huyler said Logan is thrilled to be a big brother, even bringing his new baby sister a stuffed animal when he met her.

O’Donnell is an acupuncturist and Huyler, 37, who hails from North Attleborough, works as a lineman for Eversource. The family lives in Belchertown and raved about the care at The Birthplace.

“So amazing, so caring,” O’Donnell said. “We feel very blessed to have worked with them.”

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or
413-930-4120.