Fiona Odewhan and Kurt Byrne needed a “miracle” after losing both of their best friends last year.
They got just that at 1:32am on New Year’s Day when their first child Michael Kurt Leslie Byrne was born after almost 24 hours of labour.
Having held on for four days past the due date, Michael earned the title of the first baby born in the ACT in 2017 at Canberra Hospital.
His Isabella Plains parents said they were exhausted and overwhelmed, but mostly just grateful.
“We needed a miracle,” Mr Byrne said.
“Everything’s fallen into place in the New Year, after we both had such a shit year.”
Mr Byrne’s best friend died in a motorcycle accident last year and Ms Odewhan also lost her closest friend.
The couple said they hoped their “miracle” baby would turn their luck around.
The first-time parents speculated their son may have known he would cause a stir if he waited until the early hours of Sunday to arrive.
“He wanted some fame I think,” Mr Byrne said.
The couple have just moved into a new house and said they were looking forward to a new start in 2017.
This post originally appeared on ABC News.
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