Nome, Alaska – Rylan Curtis Pungowiyi became Norton Sound Health Corporation’s first baby born in 2018 on January 7th. The healthy baby boy, weighing 6 pounds 14 ounces, was not expected for another two and a half weeks.
“I was surprised,” said mom Patricia Pungowiyi on finding out her son was the first baby of the year – especially since 2018 was already one week old. Dr. Julie Sicilia helped deliver Rylan, who arrived at 2:15 a.m. and showed up measuring 18.5 inches in length.
“He’s doing great,” Pungowiyi said from home in Savoonga. “He’s already grown an inch and three-quarters.”
Rylan is Patricia and Danny Pungowiyi’s fourth boy. He will grow up with three older brothers to look up to: Kayden, Clarence, and Jonathan.
Rylan’s family, including great-grandparents Maryann Wongittilin and Amelia Kingeekuk and grandparents April Wongittilin and Mitchell Toolie (maternal side) and Adeline and Perry Pungowiyi (paternal side), were all very excited for his arrival.
Rylan’s grandfather Perry named him Savwaaghhaq in St. Lawrence Island Yupik tradition.
