Leap Day comes around only once every four years, making it by far the rarest birthday on the calendar. It’s one that will be shared by young Everett Voyt, who was born at 12:23 a.m. last Thursday at Trinity Health hospital in Muskegon.
Everett’s parents are Nick and Sarah Voyt; Nick is in charge of youth programs at the North Muskegon branch of the Muskegon Area District Library.
Having a Leap Day birthday can be a mixed bag for a young kid, but the Voyts, Nick said, were actually rooting for their son to be born Feb. 29 when they found out they were expecting and that the due date was close to Leap Day (he was originally due March 4).
“As we got closer, it seemed like, especially with what the OB/GYN was saying, Feb. 29 would be a possibility,” Nick said. “Sarah wanted him to be born Feb. 29, and I also sort of wanted that, because it’s such a unique day.”
Because of some complications, Everett was delivered by C-section, and because he was born at 12:23 a.m., Nick said he believes it was the first birth of Leap Day at the hospital.
Obviously there is no telling how Everett will like having a birthday that he’ll only see on the calendar every four years. Nick said they’ll likely celebrate his birthday Feb. 28 outside of leap years. If nothing else, though, he chuckled, it’ll be an easy icebreaker in any conversation as he grows older.
“It’s something fun for him to have,” Nick said. “Who knows if he’ll resent it or find it interesting.”
Despite the rarity of their son’s birthday, Nick and Sarah share one very important thing in common with most first-time parents.
“At this point I’m not thinking super straight,” Nick laughed. “It’s a big adjustment. Luckily we have a good support system, so it’s been relatively smooth.”
