In January, Swedish Medical Center announced its search for the "oldest baby" born at Swedish in celebration of its 100th anniversary. On March 8, Ballard resident Virginia McCutchon, 96, took the prize.

McCutchon was born at Swedish on May 27, 1914 and grew up in the Ballard/Greenwood area, attending Ballard High School. She then designed and built her own home in the neighborhood.

At age 3, McCutchon was diagnosed with polio and suffered paralyzation in her legs. Today, she is one of the oldest polio survivors in the country.

McCutchon has a passion for art and returned to school late in life, graduating at age 60 from the University of Washington as a Lambda Rho Art Honorary student.

Her other passion is Seattle and its natural beauty. Her favorite sights are the water of Puget Sound and Hood Canal, the snow-covered Olympic Mountains and the grandeur of Mount Rainier.

McCutchon passed her love of Seattle on to her family. Her two children, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren live in the city.

As the oldest person born at Swedish, McCutchon will receive a prize package from Hotel 1000.

More than 200,000 babies have been born at Swedish since 1910, and more than 65 of them entered the Oldest Swedish Baby contest.

The contest's runner-up, 93-year-old Neva Robinson Brooks from Bothell, will serve as Swedish's official "spokes-baby" for its centennial celebration in McCutchon's stead.