By Michael Morton
Daamiah's bearer, 20-year-old single mom Amanda Hunter, knew her due date was Jan. 1, but did not expect such a timely arrival at Elmhurst Hospital, a spokeswoman for the facility said.”She didn't think she would come into the world exactly at that moment,” the spokeswoman said. As per custom, Mayor Michael Bloomberg arrived later in the day to pay his respects and wish the new mother well.Daamiah's arrival followed one of the last babies of 2004 15 hours earlier, when the new daughter of Collette and Rolyston David of South Ozone Park arrived in the world in the back seat of her parents' car, police said. Collette David, who had been told by doctors to expect her baby several days later, felt labor pains and instructed her husband to drive them over to the Jamaica home of his sister, a nursing assistant. But when they got to their destination, the baby decided it was time to enter the world before the nursing assistant could come out to help.Soon after the child's birth, Officers Dave Joel and Adam Grimmett of Jamaica's 113th Precinct responded to take the couple and their child to Jamaica Hospital, police said.Inside their room, the joke was that the baby girl had been born in time for a reduction on the couple's 2004 income taxes, a hospital spokesman said.None of the parents could be reached for comment, and the Davids requested that the name of their baby girl not be released, the spokesman said.Amanda Hunter and Daamiah left Elmhurst Hospital Monday in good health, the spokeswoman said. The newborn weighed 5 pounds, 2 ounces and was 19 inches long. The Davids' child weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces and was also 19 inches long.Reach reporter Michael Morton by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 154.
