Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital welcomes first baby

One historic first was celebrated hours after a historic farewell at the province’s first ever children’s hospital.

Jessica Zakoor was the first patient arriving in labour to the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital on Sunday.

Hours later, Theodore John Liel Guenther became the first baby born at the now operational hospital at 2:32 p.m.

That morning, down a few floors and a few hundred metres over at Royal University Hospital (RUH), Shannon Lucky was giving birth to her daughter, Hannah Helen Friesen Lucky — the last baby born at the 64-year-old hospital.

Both women were beaming as they were introduced to reporters Monday to share stories few labouring moms can relate to.

“Yesterday was quite the experience being in labour and coming in and everyone cheering us on,” Zakoor said of the greeting party that cheered her on as husband Lane Gunther wheeled her through the doors.

“It was special.”

There was no doubt in Zakoor’s mind if she was going to be the first labouring mother at the hospital. Staff told her she was the first to cross through the doors as they cheered her on.

The cheers weren’t wasted on Zakoor either.

“I can do this,” she said of her first thoughts after the cheering.

Lucky didn’t quite have the same fanfare when she arrived at RUH at roughly 5 a.m.

“It was really quiet and really peaceful. When we came up to admitting, I was pretty sure everybody was surprised to see anybody coming in,” Lucky said.

The moment became sentimental for staff as they realized Hannah was going to be the final birth at the hospital.

“It was a little surreal. The place was kind of half empty,” Lucky said.

Lucky, and her husband Matthew Friesen, had the whole unit to themselves for at least an hour as all other maternal patients were transferred by then.

After delivering, Lucky said nurses and other staff were bringing personal belongings along for the journey to Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital.

“I felt like I could see the lights going out as we rolled down the hallway.”

Roles could have been swapped

Zakoor originally showed up to the hospital earlier, but she was sent home and told to labour longer at home before returning. When she did, she arrived six days after her Sept. 21 due date.

She never imagined giving birth to the first baby born at the province’s first children’s hospital, but baby Theodore had different plans.

“I think he did,” she said, staring at her newborn. “I think he waited it out.”

Lucky was scheduled for an induction at the new hospital on Tuesday after going past her Sept. 18 due date.

“We definitely thought we’d be at the new hospital then, but I guess she had other plans,” Lucky said.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority said 112 maternal and child patents were transferred to the new hospital. The first patients began moving at 7:17 a.m. and the move was completed by 11:31 a.m.

As of 2 p.m. on Monday, 10 babies were born at the new hospital, but none will be able to relate to the first day Hannah — weighing seven pounds, eight ounces — and Theodore — weighing five pounds, two ounces — experienced on Sunday.