Queen Creek family welcomes town’s first baby of 2022

Queen Creek’s first new baby of the year was born almost an hour into 2022.

The baby girl was born after midnight on New Year’s Day at Banner Ironwood Medical Center.

Thirty-seven-year-old Claudia Velasquez of Queen Creek gave birth to Aretzi Ruvalcaba-Velasquez at 12:42 a.m. Saturday.

Aretzi came into the world weighing 7 pounds, 3 ounces. Her mother and father, Ivan Ruvalcaba, 35, are excited to introduce her to her brothers, Aaron Esquivel-Velasquez, 10, and Damian Esquivel-Velasquez, 12, as well as her sister, Marci Esquivel-Velasquez, 14.

“To receive her is a big blessing,” Claudia Velasquez said in a press release. “It’s a great gift on New Year’s.”

Banner Ironwood Medical Center provides patient care to the Queen Creek and San Tan Valley communities, including emergency services, intensive care, surgery, obstetrics and medical imaging.

Last year, Banner Ironwood Medical Center opened a new six-bed Banner Children’s inpatient unit to help meet the pediatric health care needs of Queen Creek and the surrounding area.