Little Aiden Patrick Phen was the first baby born at Mercy Medical Center this year. He arrived at 12:37 a.m., and weighed in at 6 lbs. 1 ounce. He was welcomed by his proud Redding parents, Dr. Irene Kan, 31, and her husband, Dr. Alfred Phen, 39, both of whom are dentists. Kan works for Access Dental in Redding. Phen has a Red Bluff Dental practice.
Already Aiden’s parents have an eye on his career path.
“I think he could be an oral surgeon, but he could start by being a dentist,” said Aiden’s mother with a laugh. “Well, maybe we should see what he wants to be.”
For his meeting with media, Baby Aiden, with a perfect button nose and rosebud mouth, wore a yellow knit hat and was swaddled in a striped blanket. He snoozed quietly as his parents talked about their son, whom they described as their “miracle.” Kan said that for years they’d wanted to start a family, and were so pleased to finally became parents.
Kan noted that Aiden, whose due date was actually Jan. 7, must have decided he’d rather come early and be Redding’s New Year’s baby, than wait for his expected arrival date.
“He’s sleeping so far, which may be good,” observed Aiden’s father, when asked how the baby was doing.
“He looks like his family,” said Aiden’s mother, as she looked from her tiny son to her husband.
“He’s good-looking, like me,” said Aiden’s father with a smile.
As an aside, Aiden has the distinction of being born days before Mercy Medical Center will implement its new smoke-free campus. According to Megan Loveless, the hospital’s public relations coordinator, the smoke-free policy will begin Jan. 4. Loveless said that all medical facilities within the Catholic Healthcare West organization will go smoke-free, and that the decision was made in patients’ best interest.
But back to baby Aiden, whom Loveless said is one of about 2,000 babies born at Mercy each year.
Welcome baby Aiden Patrick Phen! Congratulations to Irene Kan and Alfred Phen. Happy New Year!
Independent online journalist Doni Greenberg founded what’s now known as anewscafe.com in 2007 with her son, Joe Domke of the Czech Republic. Prior to 2007 Greenberg was an award-winning newspaper opinion columnist, feature and food writer recognized by the Associated Press, the California Newspaper Publishers Association and E.W. Scripps. She lives in Redding, CA.
A News Cafe, founded in Shasta County by Redding, CA journalist Doni Greenberg, is the place for people craving local Northern California news, commentary, food, arts and entertainment. Views and opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of anewscafe.com.
