Guam baby is first of new year
Advertiser Staff and News Services
An infant named for his father's idol, basketball superstar Michael Jordan, is the first baby born in the United States in 2002.
Masako Watanabe • Pacific Daily News
Jordan Cole Garcia was born at 35 seconds past midnight Monday, Guam time, at Guam Memorial Hospital in Hagatna.
Desiree Garcia, 28, and Kailua Faumui, 29, hold newborn Jordan Garcia, the first American baby born this year, at Guam Memorial Hospital. Jordan, named for basketball star Michael Jordan, was born 35 seconds past midnight.
His mother, Desiree Garcia, 28, of Nimitz Hill, said her son "really thinks he's a firecracker."
Jordan is the second child of Garcia and Kailua Faumui, 29.
"The only thing that was going through my mind was that this was the first baby born in America," the father said.
But that was the farthest thing from the mother's mind. "I just wanted it to be over with," she said after 12 hours of labor.
Dr. Thomas Shieh called Jordan a miracle baby. Garcia went into premature labor at 32 weeks and had to work hard to make sure her baby was not born too early. He was due Jan. 11.
Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser
Hawai'i's first baby of 2002 was expected Christmas Eve.
Redley Killion holds daughter Nelna, born at Kapi'olani Medical Center. She was due Christmas Eve.
Instead, Nelna Leslie Marie Killion was born at Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women and Children at 1:25 a.m. yesterday, the second child of MaryJane, 28, and Redley Killion, 24.
She weighed in at 8 pounds, 10.8 ounces and measured 20.75 inches.
The exhausted mother said the couple had no immediate plans for more additions to the family. She was in labor with Nelna for about 10 hours.
Although they missed out on New Year's festivities, the Killions know how they'll be ringing in 2003.
"With a bang," Redley Killion said with a big smile.
