A “miracle” baby was born at 2:22 a.m. on 2/22/2022 in delivery room 2, of course, in North Carolina.
Hank and Aberli Spear welcomed baby Judah Grace, their first child, proof that the palindrome date isn’t just for weddings.
Aberli’s doctor had planned to induce the birth at 12 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 21, Aberli told McClatchy News. But Judah Grace did not make an appearance until 26 hours of labor later on Tuesday — or “Twosday” — Feb. 22, at Alamance Regional Medical Center in Burlington.
Aberli said she had stopped looking at the clock long before, and when Judah was born the whole room burst out in celebration.
“I looked at my husband, I was like, ‘Wait, what time was she born?’ And he said ‘2:22 a.m.’ I was like, ‘You have got to be kidding me!’”
“Then of course,” she said, “we were in room number two.”
The couple then realized their daughter weighs seven pounds 10 ounces, which equals 122 ounces.
“God definitely has got a sense of humor!” the new mom said.
The birth of Judah is especially meaningful as Aberli is a cancer survivor.
Kristi Engelbrecht, Judah Grace’s grandmother, called WFMY News 2 to share what she considers to be a miracle. She said Aberli battled Hodgkin’s lymphoma for six years until 2020.
“Judah is a reminder of all things good, God’s promises kept, and a community pulling together for the good of one another,” Engelbrecht told the news channel.
Aberli said she was diagnosed with cancer three months after she started dating her now-husband Hank. She was told they possibly wouldn’t be able to have kids, Aberli told McClatchy News.
After looking at other alternatives such as egg freezing facilities, Aberli said she turned to hope and prayer.
“I was like, well God I’m praying for you, a miracle baby would be great. And that’s what we’re calling her, a miracle baby,” she said.
Hank and Aberli decided to name their daughter Judah which means “praise” in Hebrew.
Both the mom and the baby are healthy and they are scheduled to go home on Feb. 23.
“I’m hoping that everyone that hears and reads the story has hope, hope for the future, and hope that things always work out in the end,” the new mom said.
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