First babies of 2022 bring hope amid pandemic

Hamilton's first babies of 2022 arrived like a booster of joy amid a seemingly never-ending pandemic of worry.

Charlotte Alice Bolton met proud first-time parents Hannah Geddie and John Bolton at 33 minutes after midnight at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, immediately becoming the most exciting part of our lives, pandemic or not." She weighed seven pounds, six ounces.

About seven minutes later, baby girl Wazia Miah was born at McMaster Children's Hospital, a New Year's gift" to parents Ruji and Johir Miah.

Both sets of parents were tickled to learn their babies were first to arrive at the respective hospitals in 2022.

Labour is never fun ... but as we got closer to midnight it actually was kind of exciting," said Geddie, who was due Dec. 29 but joked with her partner about the prospect of having a New Year's baby.

In brief telephone interviews in the new year, both families were more interested in singing the praises of the pandemic-weary health care workers who helped make it all happen.

We were a bit worried, scared, about coming in (to the hospital) with everything going on," said new dad Johir, referencing the latest Omicron-fueled wave of COVID infections. But everyone here, all the staff, were so wonderful. They made everything so smooth for us."

Geddie, a pediatric endocrinologist who has worked at both hospitals, is no stranger to the challenges facing health care workers during COVID.

She and Bolton said they were amazed" by the care they received at St. Joseph's.

Given the circumstances, when it's New Year's Eve, in the middle of a pandemic, and they're short-staffed? They were just flat-out incredible," said Bolton.

Precautionary COVID protocols in hospital didn't faze any of the new parents - but they might frustrate some eager family members hoping to meet newborns Charlotte and Wazia sooner rather than later.

Charlotte's grandparents have been isolating in anticipation of the big day, but the logistics of safely introducing her to the rest of the family - including five of Geddie's sisters - will be trickier because of COVID.

Wazia will soon meet her eight-year-old brother and five-year-old sister, but a larger family reunion will probably have to wait for a bit," added her dad.

They'll all get to meet eventually," said Bolton. Whether it's a week from now or a month from now, it will be great."

Matthew Van Dongen is a transportation and environment reporter at for The Spectator. mvandongen@thespec.com