Cordelia Gayla Eveline Tiemstra Liebau became Fort McMurray’s New Year’s baby at 2:20 AM on New Year’s Day. 

Dad Dustin Tiemstra and Mom Michelle Liebau are hoping to be out of hospital Thursday after receiving what they call tremendous care at the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre. 

Michelle said Cordelia was originally due Christmas day, but Mom and Dad will take the extra special start to 2024. 

“She decided to make us wait a little longer,” Michelle said. “I actually went into labour on the Friday night, and continued that throughout the weekend.”

Michelle said she needed to have an emergency C-section to give birth to Cordelia, but added she and her baby are doing great thanks to some great care at the Health Centre. 

“We are under excellent care here at the hospital,” Michelle said. “We’ve been taking some time to recover, as it’s never easy when things change last minute like that, but she’s doing wonderful.”

Cordelia was born a healthy 8 lbs. 13 oz., and 54.5 cm long. This is Dustin and Michelle’s first child together, but Dustin said he also has a 12-year-old.

Michelle also indicated pharmacies in Fort McMurray, including Wood Buffalo Pharmacy, Dave Hill Pharmacy and Shoppers Drug Mart prepared a small prize for the New Year newborn. 

Both Michelle and Dustin extended many thanks to their midwife Holly Umana, their Doula Tayla Mallott of Mamasaurus, their O.B. Dr. Morah, the NLRHC operating room staff, the NLRHC Maternity Unit, and the Fort McMurray Fire Department Local 2494 for their support.