Jasper’s first baby of 2021 was born on New Year’s Day.
First time parents Charmaine and Faulbert Faurillo welcomed baby Zhinnia Maine on Jan. 1 at 7 p.m. at Hinton hospital.
Dad Faulbert said, “We are a bit overwhelmed but happy she is here.”
Charmaine’s contractions started on Dec. 30 and the couple went to Hinton hospital the following evening, but had to spend a night in a hotel as they waited for the labour to progress.
On New Year’s Day, the Faurillos went back to the hospital at 6 p.m. and baby Zhinnia was born an hour later by emergency C-section, weighing six pounds, eight-and-a-half ounces.
Zhinnia was named after the zinnia flower and her middle name is her grandmother’s.
After two days, the three were released from hospital and Faulbert, a baker at Tim Hortons, and Charmaine, now on maternity leave from her job at Alpine Summit Seniors Lodge, are settling in at their Jasper home with
their new little one.
“We are doing good, the nurses have already visited and said she is doing good with breastfeeding,” Faulbert said.
The first local stork for 2021 made a low-profile landing this year as Alberta Health Services (AHS) did not identify or announce the New Year’s baby for Jasper due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
AHS said in a statement that they were unable to let media into wards or facilitate interviews due to current restrictions in place at healthcare facilities and “extremely busy” labour and delivery teams.
“We congratulate families on their new additions and welcome these brand new Albertans to the world,” said an AHS media release.
AHS hopes to resume the tradition in 2022.
