It took a while for Lulu Island to be graced with its first newborn in 2018.
Kayden Kang, a healthy 3.45-kilogram boy, was born at 4:13 a.m., to father Kant Kang, 46, and mother Kim (Mager) Kang, 36.
Kayden’s birth at Richmond Hospital adds another chapter to Kim’s long family history in Richmond, however he will likely make most of his firsts in life at the family home in Port Moody.
“But [his] first home is technically Richmond because we’ll stay with our parents for a week,” said Kim, who will soon take Kayden to her grandparents at Gilmore Gardens.
Kim is a 1999 Steveston High graduate who was also born at Richmond Hospital, in 1981. She and Kant are both employees at Cineplex. They initially met while working at SilverCity Riverport.
Kayden is the second child, the first being two-year-old Kiana. Kayden’s name will join his sister’s and mom’s on the maternity ward’s wall of donations from newborn families.
“We really like the hospital. We have a friend who’s a nurse here. . . It’s a nice hospital and we had a really good experience here last time,” said Kim.
The couple said they couldn’t be happier to have Kayden in their lives now.
“He seems to be a pretty good boy so far; pretty chill; likes to eat; doesn’t cry much,” said Kant.
Will he take after dad at all?
“He’ll be a pretty good guy, very helpful, very respectful. He’ll like Star Wars a lot,” quipped Kim.
And when asked about having Richmond’s 2018 baby, Kim replied:
“It was pretty cool afterwards!”
The Kangs said they didn’t think they’d have a New Year’s baby, even though Kim’s due date was Jan. 2.
“I thought I was going to be late. My mom was late with me,” explained Kim.
But on the afternoon of New Year’s Eve, Kim started to go into labour. Still, she didn’t think much of it, she said.
“Because I had a C-section last time I thought it would take a while because this would be my first (regular) birth and usually they take a while. I thought maybe he would be born on the first but I never thought he’d be the New Year’s baby. My midwife said, ‘call me in the morning, you’ll be fine.’ Then my water broke at 11:30,” said Kim.
And yet, while the first B.C. baby was born a reported eight seconds after midnight, it took over four hours for Richmond Hospital to record its first 2018 baby.
This is statistically on par with the number of recorded births in the last fiscal year at Richmond Hospital — 2,225 — which is a rate of six per day, or one every four hours.
Evidently, it was a close race to the end, according to Kant.
“The nurses said, ‘oh there’s another couple that’s going to give birth as well but you’re way ahead.’ Then they came back, because it took a little longer — because things (initially) progressed so quickly with (Kim) — and they said, ‘oh they’re catching up now,’” chuckled Kant.
According to Kant’s mom, Kayden has Grandpa Kant’s nose. And so far he has more Asian features (The Kang side is Cambodian, although Kant was born in Bangkok, Thailand).
“They always come out Asian, just like my daughter, but then they change.” chuckled Kant.
