‘We feel incredibly blessed’: Rural Kansas hospital welcomes rare Leap Day babies
WASHINGTON CO. (KSNT) – A pair of rare Leap Day births in Washington County have given two Kansas families some new reasons to celebrate this year.
The Lehman family welcomed the newest addition to their household on Leap Day around 11:40 a.m. with the arrival of their newborn son, Easton Friedrich Lehman. The boy already shares something in common with his mom, Callie, that few other children will be able to relate to: they were both born on Leap Day.
“Feeling great overall,” Callie said. “Very excited I have a Leap Day buddy to share the special birthday with. I always thought that would be a fun and special concept, but I never thought it would happen.”
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Callie and her husband, Brent, live with their two other children, ages five and two, in Linn, Kan. Brent told 27 News he is happy his wife can share something special with their newest child.
“Just kinda feeling extra thankful right now,” Brent said. “Just glad my wife can share a birthday with someone she loves so much.”
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Callie and Brent weren’t the only family to bring a child into the world on Leap Day this year though. Jeff and Andrea Blumer welcomed their newborn daughter, Olivia James Blumer, around 7:40 a.m.
“We feel incredibly blessed to have our fourth baby,” Andrea said. “Just in general feel surprised that she’s here.”
Andrea, who works at the hospital and is friends with Callie, said only around 20-30 babies are delivered every year there. Both of the Leap Day babies born at the Washington County Hospital were delivered by Dr. David Hodgson.
“We’re just super lucky that the baby is here and healthy and mom’s healthy and everyone here at the Washington County hospital is amazing,” Jeff said. “It couldn’t have gone better.”
A photo of Olivia James Blumer. Dr. David Hodgson holding the two Leap Day babies born at the Washington County Hospital in 2024. (From left to right) Brent and Callie Lehman hold their newborn while Dr. David Hodgson stands at center next to Andrea and Jeff with their own newborn.
Roxanne Schottel, the CEO of the Washington County Hospital, also commented on the rare Leap Day births.
“It is very unusual on the same day of the year, but especially on a Leap Day,” Schottel said.
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People born on Leap Day are collectively known as ‘Leaplings‘ as they only get to celebrate their actual birthdays once every four years. This leads to situations where a Leapling can claim to only have celebrated four birthdays but be 16-years-old.
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