Salem Health News

Salem Health’s first baby of 2025 took some time to arrive on New Year’s Day but was actually one week early of her due date. Eliana Guzman arrived at 10:08 a.m. on Jan. 1 as Salem Hospital’s first baby born at the Family Birth Center in 2025, and to the delight of both her parents and her new big brother, Favian.

“We picked her name because it means God has answered,” said mom Maria Villasenor. A little girl was like an answer to their prayers, she added.

“Favian was so proud when he saw her, he cried,” said Maria, noting her 7-year-old son can’t wait to be a big brother. Born to parents Maria and husband Andres Guzman, Eliana weighed 9 pounds, 1 ounce — and arrived one week early. “All the people here are so kind,” Maria said. “Other than pushing out a very large baby, everything went fine!”

The family lives in Salem. Andres works in the retail food business and Maria is a medical technician for a local residential care facility.