By Howard Koplowitz and Scott Sieber
Cabrera, of Jackson Heights, gave birth to Albert Fernando Marte Cabrera at 12:33 Jan. 1 at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, unofficially delivering the first baby born in Queens in 2007.”Very happy,” Cabrera, 37, said through an interpreter, referring to her feelings about giving birth to Albert.The child, born premature and weighing only 4 pounds, is Cabrera's second child and her first born in the United States. He was being cared for in Schneider Children's Hospitals neonatal intensive care unit as of Tuesday afternoon.”We are happy that he was OK,” Cabrera said of Albert's early arrival in the world.A native of the Dominican Republic, Cabrera said she has lived in Queens for a little less than a year.The boy's father, 47-year-old Jorge Luis Marte, was in Jackson Heights while Cabrera was being interviewed, but the proud mother said the father had joy on his face as he welcomed his second son into the world. Albert's 6-year-old brother had yet to see him, Cabrera said.She said LIJ presented her with a basket for giving birth to the hospital's first baby in 2007. but she had yet to open the gift. Albert beat out the 1:01 a.m. birth of baby Jocelyn at Elmhurst Hospital, who was born to Blanca Delgado of Corona, according to a hospital spokeswoman.At nearby New York Hospital Queens, little Alana Lashell Beech was welcomed into the world at 5:37 a.m. Born to 26-year-old Lashell Goffe of Springfield Gardens, Alana weighed in at 8 pounds, 10 ounces and was measured at 20 1/2 inches.Goffe's first child, Jonathon, was born only 11 months ago at Elmhurst Hospital Center, making the brother and new sister a set of “Irish Twins,” or babies born within a year of each other.”Now I have a boy and a girl and I'm happy for that,” Goffe said. “That's it for now,” she added with a laugh.An immigrant from Panama and a human resources employee at Citi Group, Goffe was awarded with a bouquet of flowers and care packages from Babies R Us for having the first baby of the new year at the Flushing hospital.Hospital employees said the facility averages roughly 10 new baby births every day.”She's been absolutely fabulous,” said Registered Nurse Ginny Gerace, referring to Goffe.Goffe, who had the baby without any pain medication, was excited Tuesday and scheduled to be released the following day. She thanked her fiance Owen Beech, whom she said was diligent in watching their other child during the birth, as well as hospital employees for their hard work.”They were wonderful,” she said. Neither Flushing Hospital nor Jamaica Hospital could be reached for comment on the first babies born at those facilities. Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 173.
