JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas -- He was due after the holiday, but decided to come early to the New Year's party.
A few hours after the ball dropped in Times Square, Callum Charles Hunt made his appearance at 1:50 a.m. on New Year's Day, marking Brooke Army Medical Center's first delivery of 2019.
Retired Army Sgt. Christopher Hunt and his wife, Hillary, had been planning for a delivery later in the week and were surprised to hear the moment was at hand. "I had a 2:30 p.m. appointment on New Year's Eve and was taken to labor and delivery right away," Hillary said.
Christopher was working at the time. "When I got the call I rushed right over," he said.
The couple was told they were now in the San Antonio "baby race," an annual event in which local hospitals track to see who has the first baby of the New Year. University Health System won that race this year with a baby born exactly at midnight; however, the Hunts were still surprised to hear they had BAMC's first baby of the year.
"I was in labor and heard everyone saying Happy New Year, but I was pretty busy at that time," Hillary said.
Baby races aside, the couple's focus is on their newborn, Callum, who weighed in at 5 pounds, 4 ounces.
BAMC Commander Brig. Gen. George Appenzeller stopped by for a quick visit today and helped present the family, to include daughter Ayla, with a "first baby of the year" gift basket packed with newborn necessities, courtesy of the BAMC Auxiliary.
Last year, BAMC's first baby was born Jan. 1 at 2:27 a.m. The hospital went on to deliver 1,915 babies in 2018 with an average of 160 babies per month, according to the maternal child section.
The labor and delivery unit comprises a team of specialists, including certified midwives. This mix of specialties enables expectant moms to customize their birthing plan, whether they're set on natural childbirth or open to pain relief interventions.
The now mom of two said she was impressed with BAMC's reception and the care. "They have great nurses and great doctors," she said.
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