America's First Baby Of 2011- It's a Girl!

Cathy Narciso, 28, from Dededo, was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome, a common hormonal disorder among women of reproductive age.

A doctor told her it would have been difficult for her to have children. But Narciso, a staff nurse at Guam Memorial Hospital, hoped and prayed she would be a mom one day. She became a mother on New Year's Day. Eighteen seconds after midnight Narciso gave the final push making her son, Peter Gabriel Imson, the first baby to be born in America in 2011. Imson left the womb crying and opened his eyes immediately, said Dr. Thomas Shieh, the obstetrician who delivered the healthy baby boy.Imson weighs 6 pounds and 13 ounces and is 18.5 inches tall, Shieh said. Imson is also an early birthday present for his mother, who turns 29 on Jan. 8. "I wasn't expecting it," Narciso said of hospital officials telling her that Imson is the first baby born in America this year. "I didn't know what came with it."

Lots came with it. Since 2005, the "I Love Guam New Year Baby" project started by Archway Inc. has been showering the first baby born on Guam with gifts from local businesses valued at thousands of dollars. Imson got the same treatment yesterday at Guam Memorial Hospital. Around 2 p.m., about $7,000 worth of gifts were rolled into Imson's room. Savings bonds, diapers and a car safety seat were just a few of the items. Hank Rice, sales and marketing director at Archway Inc., said the previous year isn't over until the gifts are delivered to the firstborn for the new year.
"We are hoping this will be a way to promote Guam," Rice said. "This is the first baby born in the United States of America. No other place can claim that right. This is spotlighting Guam." Rice said despite the shortfalls in the economy, Guamanians still gave donations to make this happen for the newborn. "It's always positive," Rice said. Shieh said Narciso's story is one of hope and faith. "As a doctor, every baby is precious and I do my best to take care of the mother and the baby at the same time, and we all realize that medicine is not perfect and doctors really are just God's helpers," Shieh said. "So I agree with mom, it takes hope, faith and, yes, lots of prayers." Narciso said, as a first-time mother, she was appreciative of Shieh and the GMH staff, especially Staff Nurse II Joanne Camemo, at the Labor and Delivery ward. "I am really grateful. I guess I am really fortunate," Narciso said. "Not only having the babies but the extras. He came with a bundle. He's a lucky baby. I am a lucky mom, too."

SOURCE: America's first baby of 2011
By Laura Matthews • Pacific Sunday News • January 2, 2011