First baby born at Blessing in 2022 arrives one month early

January 2, 2022 | By Muddy River News

Kouri Woods Dawn Clayton and baby Kai Woods_First baby of 2022 at Blessing copy

Dawn Clayton is flanked by Kouri Woods, left, and their son, Kai Joshua Eugene Woods, who was born Saturday. Kai is the first child born at Blessing Hospital in 2022. | Photo courtesy of Blessing Hospital

QUINCY — Kai Joshua Eugene Woods was the first baby born in 2022 at Blessing Hospital’s Blessed Beginnings maternity center, the son of Dawn Clayton and Kouri Woods of Quincy. Kai was born at 8:15 a.m. Saturday.

“It’s exciting,” Clayton said. “It wasn’t something that I expected. Kai was due on February 2. He decided to be the first baby of 2022.”

Kai weighed 5 pounds, 6 ounces and was 17 inches long when he arrived 33 days early. He has one brother and four sisters — Justice McDade, 15, Alexis Woods, 12, Kaylee Smith, 12, Lyric Woods, 11, and Arianna Woods, 7.

Kai and his family received gifts from various area businesses and organizations, including Blessed Beginnings and Blessing Hospital.