Deon is first baby of 2012

A bouncing baby boy who took his sweet time coming to this world is the Commonwealth’s New Year baby for 2012.

Deon was born via normal delivery at 3:15am on Jan. 2 at the Commonwealth Health Center, weighing in at seven pounds and 5.3 ounces. He is the firstborn child of proud parents Hannahlei Ogarto and Derrick Sablan.

According to nurse-in-charge Annette Quiambao, Ogarto was admitted to the Labor and Delivery Section past 6pm on New Year’s Day and Deon was successfully delivered by Dr. Helen Taro after nine hours of labor. Both mother and child are expected to be discharged anytime today.

Saipan Tribune learned that the 22-year-old Ogarto was the only patient at the hospital’s Labor and Delivery Section since Dec. 31.

In a visit to the hospital, the proud parents expressed joy upon seeing their newly born son, the first child in the family.

According to Ogarto, she didn’t really expect Deon to become the New Year baby but is happy that he is. Relatives, many of whom visited them yesterday, also cheered and welcomed the addition of Deon to their family.

Based on hospital records, Ogarto was supposed to give birth as early as Dec. 26 but was delayed for a few days. Records also showed that no birth was recorded on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, which made Deon the first baby born in the Commonwealth in 2012.

Excited to become a mother, Ogarto said she has nothing but good wishes for her baby. The mother works as a cashier at San Roque Market while boyfriend Derrick works at the Marianas Country Club as maintenance staff. Both parents vowed to shower their baby with much love and care. The mother described the coming of their angel as the “blessing that we’ve been waiting for.”

Derrick is a baseball player, and like any father, he wants Deon to follow in his footsteps. “I want him to become an active athlete in the community. I wish he could also be a baseball player and if that happens, I will be the proudest dad in the world,” he told Saipan Tribune.

Last year, baby Hannah Lee was named the 2011 New Year baby. She was also born on Jan. 2, 2011.

The Commonwealth Health Center recorded no victims of firecracker-related incidents on Jan. 1.

Nursing supervisor Gayline Blau confirmed with Saipan Tribune that no untoward incident or firecracker-related injuries were recorded at the emergency room since Dec. 31.

She said the emergency unit has been ready since Friday noon to accommodate any untoward incident.

Hospital records yesterday showed zero accidents for Jan. 1 and 2. Saipan Tribune learned that no one has been injured for three consecutive New Years now. The last time was in 2009, when CHC registered one firecracker injury.

Nurses and hospital staff interviewed yesterday described the zero record as “good news” and an indication that people are opting to celebrate the holidays in a safe manner.