Waubun couple welcomes Detroit Lakes hospital's first publicly-recognized baby of 2022

Averi 1.jpg — Averi Lynn Lanoue, the daughter of Taylor and Austin Lanoue, is the 2022 New Year's Baby at Essentia Health St. Mary's hospital in Detroit Lakes. Averi was born shortly after 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 3. (Contributed / Austin Lanoue / Detroit Lakes Tribune)

By Vicki Gerdes

January 05, 2022 at 11:21 PM

Editor's Note: A previous version of this story had "Detroit Lakes hospital's first baby" in the headline and was changed to "Detroit Lakes hospital's first publicly-recognized baby" due to the parents of the first few newborns of 2022 not signing a consent for public release of their newborn from the hospital. The Lanoues were the first newborn family at Essentia St. Mary's to consent to their newborn's public release.

Waubun residents Taylor and Austin Lanoue weren't expecting to be the parents of the New Year's Baby at Essentia Health St. Mary's in Detroit Lakes this year.

After all, their daughter wasn't due to enter the world until Jan. 13 — but she had other plans.

Averi 2.jpg — Averi Lynn Lanoue weighed 7 pounds, 12.5 ounces and measured 19.25 inches at birth. She was born 10 days ahead of her originally scheduled due date, according to her parents, Taylor and Austin Lanoue. (Submitted photo)

Averi Lynn Lanoue was born at 6:06 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 3. She weighed 7 pounds, 12.5 ounces and measured 19.25 inches at birth. While the labor went smoothly — and rapidly, according to Taylor — the birth was not without complications.

"She's in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) at Fargo," said Averi's dad, Austin, on Jan. 6.

While her doctor expects Averi to make a full recovery, Taylor said her daughter was born with a small hole in her heart that has not yet fully healed.

Averi 3.jpg — Though Averi Lynn Lanoue was born on Monday, Jan. 3, her parents weren't able to take her home right away. She spent some time in the neonatal intensive care unit at Essentia Health in Fargo this week after being born with a small hole in her heart — but was otherwise "very healthy," according to her mom, Taylor. (Submitted photo)

Their medical team at Essentia Health also wants Averi "to build up her lungs a little bit" before they send her home, Austin added, explaining that the small hole in her heart means her blood oxygen levels are fluctuating.

"We’re just giving her lots of love and support, and hopefully she’ll be able to come home soon," Taylor said.

When she does, Averi will be welcomed home by a 3-year-old big brother, Kolt.

"He's ready to take his picture with her," said Austin with a laugh.

To help Averi settle in, Taylor is taking a six-month maternity leave from her job as a teller supervisor at Midwest Bank in Waubun, while Austin will soon be returning to his job as a section foreman at Canadian Pacific Railway.

The newly expanded family will be receiving a gift package, courtesy of the New Year's Baby contest sponsored by the Detroit Lakes Tribune. The gifts were donated by a handful of local businesses, including Beautiful Junque, the Boys & Girls Club Thrift Store, Central Market, Chinese Dragon, Lakeshirts and Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union.

By Vicki Gerdes

A reporter at Detroit Lakes Newspapers since relocating to the community in October 2000, Vicki was promoted to Community News Lead for the Detroit Lakes Tribune and Perham Focus on Jan. 1, 2022. She has covered pretty much every "beat" that a reporter can be assigned, from county board and city council to entertainment, crime and even sports. Born and raised in Madelia, Minnesota, she is a graduate of Hamline University, from which she earned a bachelor's degree in English literature (writing concentration). You can reach her at vgerdes@dlnewspapers.com.

Waubun couple welcomes Detroit Lakes hospital's first publicly-recognized baby of 2022

Essentia Health St. Mary's announced early this week that Detroit Lakes' first baby of 2022 was born to Waubun residents Taylor and Austin Lanoue. Averi Lynn Lanoue came into the world at 6:06 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 3. She weighed 7 pounds, 12.5 ounces and measured 19.25 inches at birth.