Parents greet their ‘li’l soldier’

By MOLLY DRYMAN

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – River Parishes Hospital welcomed its first baby of the year Sunday evening to proud parents Janeka Love and LeTroy Anthony Lockett Sr., of LaPlace.

Janeka gave birth to 6-pound, 3.3-ounce LeTroy Anthony Lockett Jr. at 6:49 p.m. on New Years Day.

Janeka said River Parishes Hospital was the second place she visited over the weekend, and the only place that would take her in.

&#8220I went to another hospital and I was dilated 1 centimeter, but they sent me home,” she said. &#8220So, I called River Parishes Hospital and they took me right in. They said they could help me. They treated me good from the time I walked in.”

Janeka said it felt good to have her son, and she is very happy, because it is her first.

Speaking of the first, LeTroy Jr. is not only his parents first son, he’s the first baby of the year at the hospital and the first grandson on both sides of the family.

&#8220I have a granddaughter, but he is my first grandson,” said grandmother Beverly Love. &#8220I was excited. I love it.”

LeTroy Sr. said it is a great feeling to have his first child, especially first son.

&#8220I feet great,” he said. &#8220That’s my first son, my first child, that’s my heart. I’m going to raise him and teach him all the right things in life. That’s my lil’ soldier right there.”

For being the first baby of the year, River Parishes Hospital presented a huge gift basket to the family complete with a dinner for two gift certificate from Bull’s Corner, $100 savings bond from Capital One Bank, $50 Wal-Mart Gift Card from River Parishes Hospital, $100 worth of merchandise from the hospital gift shop, $25 share certificate from Louisiana Federal Credit Union, clothes and other baby essentials.