At 39 weeks pregnant, Kelli Baker was ready to meet her baby boy. Baker had been on bed rest to prevent pre-term labor since the second week of October. “She worked hard to get this baby to this point,” says Utica Park Clinic OBGyn Dr. William Harris.
Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012 just before noon, Dr. Harris finished his grilled chicken before walking over from his Utica Park Clinic office to the Peggy V. Helmerich Women’s Health Center at Hillcrest South, where Baker was prepped and ready for her cesarean section.
“It was just a regular scheduled cesarean section,” recalls Dr. Harris.
Baker was aware of the date, but didn’t think much more about it, other than Dec. 12, 2012 (12.12.12) being exactly one week before her due date of Dec. 19. As for trying for a specific time to deliver, Baker says she first asked for the 7am slot, but was scheduled for noon.
As the cesarean section was underway, Dr. Harris says the baby was ready to be delivered when everyone looked up at the time. “We could have delivered closer to 12:10, but we waited to get close to 12:12 to deliver,” says Dr. Harris.
Then, exactly at 12:12pm on Dec. 12, 2012, baby boy Bowen Stephen Baker was born, weighing 6 pounds 9 ounces.
“I think it’s a neat memory for him,” says Baker. “It’s something he’ll always have.”
Dr. Harris had thought they hit the time exactly right, what he didn’t realize was the significance of the date. “I didn’t think about it until I saw it on TV that night,” he says.
In fact, Dr. Harris might have missed the story if his wife had not been watching. Dr. Harris says his wife made a comment about a baby being born on 12.12.12 exactly at 12:12pm. Dr. Harris looked up at the TV and responded, “Yeah, I delivered that baby.”
After seeing the graphic “12.12.12” on the news story, Dr. Harris says that is when he realized the significance of the date and baby Bowen’s arrival right at 12:12pm.
“It’s exciting for the family,” he says. “They’ll remember it forever.”