Matthew Brock Hester:

one in 1,000 years

By JAINE TREADWELL

Features Editor

Jan. 3, 2000 10 PM

Christy Hester had no illusions about being a millennium mom.

Her baby wasn’t due until Jan. 11 so the pains she was experiencing on New Year’s Eve were no more than a false alarm, she thought.

But, just to be on the safe side, she decided to let her doctor, Stephen Coleman, OB/GYN, tell her so. However, that’s not what the doctor said. Christy was in labor. Her baby boy was on the way.

Still, Christy entertained no thoughts of a New Year’s baby and, certainly, not a millennium baby. She had other things on her mind.

Labor and delivery at Edge Regional Medical Center was a busy place on Dec. 31. Three other moms were making their bids to bring Pike County’s first baby of the millennium into the world.

During Christy’s labor, her blood pressure began to rise.

"Dr. Coleman came in and told me that I needed to have a C-section and that scared me," Christy said. "But Tina (Hix, RN) came in and talked to me. She has had two C-sections and she told me everything would be okay and I felt better."

Christy’s surgery could be scheduled but a couple of the other moms set schedules of their own. One delivered at 8:48 p.m. and the other about 10 minutes later. Christy had to wait.

At about the same time the New Year rolled around, Christy was rolled into surgery.

At 12:40 a.m., Matthew Brock Hester made his appearance, weighing in at 5 pounds and 5 ounces and with the distinction as Pike County’s first baby of the new millennium.

"I knew my baby was a boy but I didn’t have a name picked out for him," Christy said, "but, when I heard him cry, I knew his name would be Matthew. I had read that Matthew means, ‘a gift from God’ and he is a gift from God. I’m so proud of him."

As the New Year’s baby, 2000, Matthew and his parents will receive gifts from local merchants and, of course, be one of ERMC’s VIP babies with all of the perks that go with it.

They will receive gift baskets courtesy of ERMC, a family portrait courtesy of Townhouse Photographers and a gift certificate from Food World. The millennium mom will receive a half-dozen red roses from Jean’s Florist and a sterling sliver charm bracelet from Diamond Mystique. Baby Matthew will receive sip cups from Troy Bank and Trust and a distinction no other Pike County baby will have for the next 1,000 years – the Millennium Baby.