UT Health Tyler Welcomes First Baby of the New Year
Tyler, Texas (January 1, 2025) — UT Health Tyler welcomed its first baby of the new year when Brooks Anthony Rachal was born to Abigail and Austin Rachal at 1:06 a.m. Wednesday. He weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces and measured 21 inches long.
“We are just thankful his delivery was smooth and he is healthy – the perfect start to our new year,” Abigail said.
She said Brooks’ due date was Jan. 11, but her water broke when she was at her doctor’s appointment on New Year’s Eve. Abigail said she actually helped deliver the first baby of the New Year in 2024 when she was a labor and delivery nurse at UT Health Tyler, and had no idea she’d be on the other side of things the following year.
“I definitely feel like I was better prepared,” she said of her previous experience working in the department where she delivered Brooks. “It helped me not be anxious coming here because I knew exactly what to expect and I know all the girls here, so it was a really great experience
for me.”
Brooks joins big brother Oakley Rachal, 9, who said he was excited about his new role and looks forward to playing baseball and video games with his baby brother.
About UT Health East Texas
UT Health East Texas provides care to thousands of patients each year through an extensive regional network that includes nine hospitals, more than 90 clinics, the Olympic Plaza Tower, 13 regional rehabilitation facilities, two freestanding emergency centers, regional home health services, an EMS fleet of more than 60 ambulances and four helicopters, and a comprehensive eight-trauma center care network, including the region’s only Level 1 trauma facility.
As a partner with The University of Texas System, UT Health East Texas is uniquely positioned to provide patients with access to leading-edge research and clinical therapies while training and educating the next generation of physicians and other health professionals. The nationally recognized UT System also includes The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, as well as three other major university medical centers located throughout the state.