EVEN BEFORE the Cape Argus could ask how Kfm morning radio host Ryan O’Connor was doing on Tuesday, he burst out with an answer brimming with joy: “I am over the moon.”
O’Connor and his wife, Karen, welcomed their first child, Faith O’Connor, into the world at 5.53am on Tuesday.
At 1.9kg, Faith is a small miracle for the O’Connors, who faced tragedy two years ago when their first daughter, Grace, was stillborn at full term in April 2013.
After a “lengthy battle” to conceive again, and a bit of difficulty around the 30-week mark, Faith arrived on Tuesday at 31.5 weeks. As her lungs continue to grow with the help of a ventilator, doctors are “very happy” and all signs are positive, O’Connor said.
He added that new mom Karen was also doing well.
“The whole experience of being there and listening to that set of lungs scream out for the first time… I’m just filled with so much love and pride and relief that she’s okay,” O’Connor said, admitting that he’d “secretly” always wanted a baby girl first.
The Breakfast Show DJ and host of upcoming reality TV series Power Couple SA said he had phoned in to Kfm at around 4am to tell them he wouldn’t be on air, as little Faith had decided it was time to come out.
Messages of congratulations and well wishes flooded in on all platforms, from Kfm listeners taking to Facebook to the chief executive officer and other managers calling in to share in the excitement.
When the couple lost Grace two years ago, O’Connor had tweeted of his infant daughter: “We will love you forever. Heaven has a place for you.”
On Tuesday his tweet rang with a different sentiment: hope.
“Welcome to the world baby Faith O’Connor. Mom and baby doing well. Thanks for all the love, prayers and blessing.”