Posted on 01/02/2007 3:49:53 PM PST by buccaneer81
Early delivery is first of new year Family welcomes 2007, baby boy after move to Columbus Tuesday, January 02, 2007 Encarnacion Pyle THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
It could have been coincidence, but Maria Naranjo Rodriguez likes to think that if she hadn’t eaten one of her motherin-law’s famously hot tamales on New Year’s Eve, she might never have gone into labor.
And if she hadn’t started having contractions at 7:30 p.m., she might never have given birth to Franklin County’s first baby of the new year.
"I had just taken a bite when my water broke," she said yesterday from her bed at Mount Carmel St. Ann’s hospital in Westerville while cradling her new son, Miguel Angel Naranjo.
"We couldn’t have planned it any better. Who would have thought: a new baby, a new year and a new life? "
She was mesmerized by little Miguel’s perfect smile as she ran her finger over his tiny lips.
"We were so afraid he would have a cleft lip," she said. "But he’s absolutely beautiful."
That fear had prompted Rodriguez, 35, and her husband, Serafin Cortez Torres, 25, to leave Michoacan, Mexico, for Columbus four months ago.
"My husband was born with a cleft palate," Rodriguez said through an interpreter. "So was his daughter from a previous relationship. And even his brother has a child with the same condition."
By coming to the United States, they felt assured that their baby would receive the best medical care.
"Thanks be to God he doesn’t have the defect," she said in Spanish while making the sign of the cross. "Being the first baby of 2007 must be good luck."
Rodriguez said her life has been like a fairy tale since meeting her husband last February. She noticed him picking avocados on a neighbor’s farm. Though she was intimidated by his boyish looks, she asked him out. After a 22-day courtship, they married on March 20.
"He’s a little younger than I am," she said. "But it’s the real thing. He loves me. I love him. And we both treat each other with respect."
Since moving to the North Side, Torres has worked nights cleaning a store. Rodriguez had planned to work, too, but broke both her ankles shortly before leaving Mexico.
Torres took the day off — his first — to help with the baby’s birth. His wife said he cried when Miguel sucked in his first breath and wailed his arrival. The baby, delivered by Caesarean section, weighed 7 pounds, 9 ounces.
The nurses at St. Ann’s suspected that Miguel might be the year’s first baby when he was born at 12:36 a.m. but called other hospitals to be sure.
"It was so exciting. Maria was the first to ring in the year," said nurse Becky Chatel.
The county’s second baby of 2007 — also a boy — was born at St. Ann’s at 1:10 a.m.
"Delivering babies, that’s our hallmark," Chatel said. "Every year, we deliver between 4,000 and 6,000."
With a Jan. 7 due date, Rodriguez didn’t expect to give birth to a holiday baby. But she suspected that he might come early when she started having intermittent contractions the day after Christmas.
"Just a few days ago, I was depressed," she said. "We don’t have lots of material things to give this little guy, but we’re filled with love and blessed by such a wonderful honor."
epyle@dispatch.com
You sure know a lot without facts, but lets not discuss me personally, it appears since you do not have facts you feel free to degrade me and I do not appreciate it.
Honestly, did you think anyone here believes that these two applied to immigrate, did all the paperwork, went through the interview process, and were granted visas all in the span of seven months?
Living in SF must really play head games on some folks.
You know that ICE monitors this site.
So? I don't employ illegals, I don't even own a business. Why would any American want to own a business today since you have nannies such as nancy pelosi and tom tancredo criticizing your every move and their supporters trying to choke your business to death.
I know they are illegal because I work for the Border Patrol, and like I stated in post #78 I've seen this type of thing many times. The story is purposely vague and devoid of detail to hide the fact that they crossed illegally. They never mentioned exactly how they crossed the border. No mention of how she broke her ankles. Sprained and broken ankles are a common injury for overweight and pregnant women crossing the border illegally. She claimes that she is married yet does not take the name of her husband which is not typical of Mexican marriages. Even more rare is the male child keeping the mothers last name in lieu of the father's. This story just reaks as an illegal alien puff piece.
Read the article, Einstein.
You cannot help yourself from making petty remarks about people can you? I did read the article and I am getting bored discussing it with someone hell bent on calling people names. I would be happy to continue to discuss this article but will no longer respond if the best you got is to belittle the person you are talking with.
Diversity!!! :)
Dane, if you're getting paid everytime you throw out the race card, you must be doing real well.
Amazing isn't it? All of us who you call racists EVERY day, defended those hispanic brown skinned Border agents, Campean and Ramos and you didn't. Don't even tell us it's becaue they "broke the law". You survive defending lawbreakers EVERY DAY.
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