Kevin Wilson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Feb 08/02) - Harry Chapin would understand. A child born just the other day came into the world in a most unusual way.

Marlene Taptoona gave birth to a bouncing and very speedy six-pound baby boy Monday. So speedy, in fact, that he arrived in a restroom at the Kitikmeot Boarding Home.

Daryl Robert Taptoona Haynes, pictured here with mother Marlene, wasn't the first baby of 2002, but he probably was the fastest. Speedy Daryl arrived in the restroom of the Kitikmeot Boarding Home. - Kevin Wilson/NNSL photo

Boarding home manager Marilyn Paradis heard a cry for help at around 8:30 p.m. Monday.

"I heard someone yelling 'help, help,' but I didn't know where they were," said Paradis.

By the time she found Taptoona in the upstairs bathroom, the baby was already in his mother's arms.

"My biggest fear was that the baby wouldn't be all right," said Paradis.

On Wednesday, a weary Taptoona said she hadn't felt well all day, but thought she was in false labour. Her expected due date was Feb. 20.

"I've never had a delivery go like that," said Taptoona, now a mother of four from Cambridge Bay.

Taptoona sprung into action after the birth, clearing his airway so he could breathe.

"I picked him up and grabbed him," and was promptly rewarded with baby's first cry.

That was all Paradis needed to hear.

"Once I heard him cry, I knew he was going to be all right," said Paradis.

A trio of prenatal patients at the boarding home hurriedly gathered blankets and towels to clean the mother and baby up and make them comfortable.

"It's exciting that it went so well," said Paradis.

Things soured two days later when Taptoona discovered $82 worth of baby clothes missing.

Paradis said her staff was doing what it could to find the missing clothes.

Daryl Robert Taptoona Haynes is trying to relax at Stanton Regional Hospital, after his unorthodox arrival.

- With files from Jorge Barrera