Baby Lucio is first for 2005 at KHMH

It happens every year at this time…that is the race to become the year’s first Belizean. News 5’s Jacqueline Woods reports from the KHMH.

Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Baby Lucio Briceno, junior weighed in at five pounds, five ounces when he was born at eight forty five on New Year?s Morning making him the first born at the Karl Heusner Memorila Hospital for 2005. The premature birth was a complete surprise but a wonderful miracle to his parents. Lucio Briceno, Senior and Janice Dawson, who have been living together for two years, say they were not prepared because their son came a month earlier than the due date.

Lucio Briceno,Sr, Father
?I am really very happy and I appreciate it. I thank God, I thank my wife and I thank the staff at the KHMH for the wonderful job that they did for us.?

Jacqueline Woods
?It?s your first baby Janice, was it a difficult pregnancy??

Janice Dawson, Mother
?Well, I mi think the way how everybody explained it to me that it would have been this and that but with me it was not that hard.?

Jacqueline Woods
?How was the delivery??

Janice Dawson, Mother
?It was quick and easy.?

Nineteen year old Dawson says she kept busy throughout her pregnancy and that?s why she believes there were no problems. Daddy Briceño, a tour guide for Cruise Solutions, says he had just been awarded a contract that will keep him away from home for some three months. Had the baby not been premature he would have definitely missed the birth of his son.

Lucio Briceño
?It?s just that; its just magic, that?s it just magic, it was all a gift. I think that baby just wanted to see his father quicker than expected. He thought that I was going away and he came by.?

Baby Lucio, who was born with fluid in his lungs, could not go home with his mother but remained for two days at the KHMH.

Jacqueline Woods
?You did not get the opportunity to bring home Lucio, Jr but today you will be doing that. How are you feeling??

Janice Dawson
?Well I feel excited because it is my first baby and I will take care of him, look out for him and everything.?

Once inside the Newborn Intensive Care Unit, the parents got ready to see their baby and finally take him home. The cameras were not allowed to go inside to witness the bonding but it was an emotional time…and this time there would be no goodbyes.

The young family say they have been blessed. Baby Briceño was born not only born on the first day of the year but mother Dawson?s birthday just happen to be on Christmas Day. Both mom and dad say they will wait until their son is three to four years old before they decide to give him a sister. Jacqueline Woods for News 5.

On New Year’s Day, the Lions Club of Belize presented to Janice Dawson a gift hamper containing a variety of baby products.