Liv was born on Friday April 15th and, like any baby, is a small, beautiful miracle in itself. But the very young girl goes one step further. Her birthday coincides with that of her mother Ashley and that of grandmother Dorine. From now on, that promises a triple cake at the Van Dam house in Odiliapeel.
“I was giving birth on my birthday,” Ashley says, holding her new daughter in her arms. “At that moment I didn’t realize it was my birthday.”
Grandma Dorine had people over at home for her birthday. “They asked all the time if something was going to happen to Ashley. But no, nothing at all,” Grandma confesses. In the evening at five to twelve the last guests went home. With the hand on the handle of the back door, as if nothing has been born yet? Once again, Dorine cannot share any happy news.
“My husband showed us a photo with Ashley and Liv early the next morning. Everyone later thought we knew, but we were completely unaware. It’s very special.”
The Van Dam family apparently has a thing for births, dates and ages. Because Dorine was 29 years old when she gave birth to Ashley on her birthday. And her daughter gives birth to Liv, just on that day, 29 years later. “No, I didn’t try to aim that way,” Ashley laughs. “It really wasn’t planned, but it’s very special now.” It will in any case be ‘one big party’ next year and the years after that, Ashley and Dorine predict.
With a little math, we quickly arrive at April 15, 2051. If Liv were to give birth that day, she would in turn continue a remarkable tradition. Ashley: “In 29 years you’ll know what to do Liv, they joked in the hospital.”