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It’s a boy! A New year’s baby surprise for Fort St. James couple

The new year might mean a new beginning for many but this couldn’t be more true for Lisa and Brad Van Koughnett of Fort St. James.
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Lisa and Brad Van Koughnett at home with their New Year's baby

Barbara Latkowski

Caledonia Courier

The new year might mean a new beginning for many but this couldn’t be more true for Lisa and Brad Van Koughnett of Fort St. James.

It was an early surprise for the couple who welcomed their first child, Leo Eldon Van Koughnett into the world at 8:09 p.m. on Jan 1, 2016.

The couple’s original due date was set for Jan. 19.

“We had no idea we would be having a New Year’s baby. It was such a surprise. It’s still a surprise,” said Leo’s mother, Lisa Van Koughnett.

Baby Leo was born at St. John Hospital in Vanderhoof weighing 7 pounds and 8 ounces.

Members of the St. John Hospital Auxiliary Society welcomed Vanderhoof’s New Year’s baby with a gift basket including a quilt donated by the Nechako Quilters Guild and locally purchased items for mom and baby.

Proud father Brad Van Koughnett couldn’t be happier. “Mom and baby are doing really well.”

The first baby born in the Northern Health region in 2016 is a girl. She was delivered at the University Hospital of Northern B.C. in Prince George at 1:25 a.m. on January 1.

The first baby born in British Columbia is a boy. He was delivered at Surrey Memorial Hospital at 12:15 a.m. on January 1 to a family from Fort Nelson.