LAC LA BICHE - Proud parents Janelle Bigstone and Dillon Cardinal welcomed their baby boy Deegan to 2021 on January 2 at 11:11 am.
Deegan, weighing 7 lbs. 8oz, is the first baby of the New Year to be born at the William J. Cadzow Hospital in Lac La Biche.
Deegan is lucky enough to have a 14-month-old sister, Blakely, who is said to be very excited to take on her new role as an older sibling - even if she may be a little jealous of having to share her parents from now on.
Bigstone says that the delivery went smoothly — and quickly. Arriving at the hospital at 7 a.m. that day, she was home with the newest family member early that evening.
“It went by fast, I had him and then five hours after they let me go home,” she said.
The main reason doctors were wanting her to not stay at the hospital longer than necessary is due to COVID-19 concerns at the health centre, said Bigstone, who was happy to get her son home for family time together.
Being pregnant during a pandemic was challenging, said Bigstone. She had to be extra cautious at all times so she didn’t contract the virus, and had to go to all of her doctor's appointments alone, which was difficult.
“I couldn’t really do much. I mostly went to appointments and came home,” said Bigstone.
The first week of having their new baby home, the parents have been focusing on getting their little one into a routine and spending as much quality time with him as possible.
Alberta Health Services announced earlier in the new year that due to COVID measures, they would not be making announcements or assisting with babies of the new year. Thanks to Bigstone and Cardinal for reaching to the Lac La Biche POST with their news.
