When Marcia Jennings was nearing her due date, she believed she would have a December baby. But the father, Marcus Maduro, had a feeling the baby would come in January.
He was proven right when Brielle Mars Maduro was born at 11:08 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 1, at Dr. Orlando Smith Hospital, weighing 7 pounds 2 ounces.
Ms. Jennings said in an interview that she began to feel some discomfort in the very early hours of the morning on Friday and paid a visit to the hospital. Staff admitted her shortly thereafter, but her baby wasn’t born until the end of the day, becoming the first baby of 2021 born in the Virgin Islands.
Brielle has two sisters and two brothers.
Ms. Jennings said she feels blessed to welcome a healthy baby to the world at the start of a new year.
Her co-workers at the supermarket where she works have shared their excitement for the new baby girl. She thanked them and the hospital staff for their kindness and expertise.
Looking to the years ahead, Ms. Jennings said she hopes to instil a strong sense of good character and an interest in education in her daughter.
“She’s very special to me, a gift from God,” Ms. Jennings said. “I will try my best to take care of her and set her on the right path to life.”
Two babies were born on Christmas Day as well. Althea Davis-Prince had her baby boy, weighing 6 pounds 7 ounces, at 10:45 a.m. Then at 8:18 p.m. Densheka Ryan-Cato had her baby girl, who was 6 pounds 9 ounces.