New Year’s Baby Celebrated at Brookings Health
- January 03, 2025
August “Gus” Graham McCuen, the son of Meredith and LaMonte McCuen of Brookings, was born at 1:55 a.m. on Jan. 1, making him the first baby of the New Year at Brookings Health System. He weighed 7 lbs., 12 oz. and measured 20.75 inches long.
August is the McCuen’s first child, and he took a little longer than average to arrive. The McCuens, who have been married for 9 years, initially were not planning on having children. Somewhere along the way, they changed their minds and finally decided it was time for a baby. August, however, decided to keep his parents waiting. His due date was Dec. 22, ten days before his birthday.
“The doctor said he liked his hot tub,” said Meredith.
Her OBGYN, Dr. Larissa Bennis, induced Meredith at 8 a.m. on New Year’s Eve. After 15 hours of labor and an hour of pushing, August was finally delivered by C-section.
“I was hoping he would come on New Year’s Eve because it is known for parties and fireworks,” said Meredith. “I was born on the Fourth of July and always have fireworks for my birthday. I wanted him to have the same thing. But his birthday on New Year’s Day will always start with fireworks.”
The McCuens knew they were having a boy, but they kept the name they had chosen private from friends and family. Their little boy’s first name comes from LaMonte’s great-grandfather. His middle name is Meredith’s grandmother’s maiden name. He’s also been given an affectionate nickname by his older cousin.
“He has these little spiked dinosaur booties and mittens,” said LaMonte. “Our six-year-old nephew, Rowan, saw those and started calling him Gus-O-Saurus.”
Like all newborns born at New Beginnings Birth Center, August received a Team Isaac sleep sack and other essential educational items for his parents on safe sleep practices. As the New Year’s Baby, August and his parents also received a variety of toys, baby products, and gift certificates from local businesses and organizations. Contributors to the New Year’s Baby gift basket include:
- Avera Medical Group Brookings
- Bel Brands
- Brookings Area Chamber of Commerce
- Brookings Health System Gift Shop
- Childbirth Support Specialists
- Children’s Museum of South Dakota
- Livingston Honey
- Maurices
- Powershop Gym
- Tend
About Brookings Health System
Brookings Health System, located in Brookings, South Dakota, includes a 49-bed hospital, the 79-bed The Neighborhoods at Brookview nursing home, Brookhaven Estates senior living apartments, Yorkshire Eye Clinic, and medical clinics in Arlington, White and Volga, South Dakota. It is a non-profit, city-owned facility that offers the community a full range of inpatient, outpatient, emergency and extended care services. Brookings Hospital provides local access to doctors in Brookings and offers robotic da Vinci surgery and Mako robotic-arm assisted procedures, making it one of the premier rural community hospitals in South Dakota. For more information about the services offered at Brookings Health System, please call (605) 696-9000 or visit us on the Web at brookingshealth.org.