LITTLETON, CO (KMGH/CNN) – In a 1 in 33,000 chance, one Colorado family celebrated the arrival of a new family member, born on the same day as both his father and his great-grandfather.
Beauden Matthew James Eppard was born July 1, 2017, making the smiling baby boy the third Eppard male in four generations to be born on that date.
Connor James Eppard, the baby’s father, was born July 1, 1990, and Jim Morrisette, the baby’s great-grandfather, was born July 1, 1931.
“We were all rooting for July 1,” Connor Eppard said.
But little Beauden’s birth wasn’t planned for that day. Instead, he was due almost three weeks later on July 17.
Beauden’s mother, Jordan Eppard, was in labor for 24 hours before an emergency C-section.
“It was actually like the worst experience ever,” Jordan Eppard said.
Now, the family is celebrating the baby’s serendipitous birth, which Morrisette says was all part of God’s plan. He says he’s always had this special bond with his grandson, and he’s glad to share it with his great-grandson as well.
“I didn’t cry this time,” he said. “I was just joyous.”
With three generations of July 1 births crowding the family calendar, the Eppard family doesn’t have a July 4 party but instead a July 1 party, celebrating their joint birthdays.
“Having him come on my birthday and my grandfather’s birthday, it’s a pretty amazing thing,” Connor Eppard said.
Copyright 2017 KMGH, Eppard Family via CNN. All rights reserved.
