Sam Purvus along with girlfriend Anastasia Gillingham hold their son Oakland Danger Gillingham-Purvis, who is the first baby born in Hancock County in 2024.
Tom Russo | Daily Reporter
GREENFIELD – New Year’s Day was quiet in the labor and delivery unit at Hancock Regional Hospital this year.
The first baby born in 2024 didn’t arrive until 8:41 a.m. Jan. 2 – a healthy baby boy with blondish brown hair, delivered by C-section Tuesday.
His parents opted for a C-section since the baby was breech, and his mother is just 4 feet, 10 inches tall.
While they live in Irvington, Anastasia Gillingham and her boyfriend, Sam Purvis, opted to have their baby in Greenfield since it’s where Gillingham grew up.
Purvis was all smiles on Wednesday, peeking in the nursery to check on his baby boy, who was born at 6 pounds, 5 ounces and 19 inches long.
“I wasn’t expecting a big baby given his mom is so tiny,” said Purvis, 28, who is taking classes at a nearby Vincennes University campus to become an airplane mechanic.
His girlfriend gave him the green light to get creative with their son’s middle name, something he’s always wanted to do.
“His middle name is Danger,” said Purvis, quoting the 1997 movie, “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.”
In it, the title character proudly shares, “Actually, my name is Austin Powers. Danger is my middle name.”
Purvis grinned as he shared he was a big fan of the movie, and that if he ever had a boy, he wanted to give him that middle name.
“My brother’s middle name was Blade, and I was always really jealous,” said Purvis. “Once you have a baby there’s really no rules, so his middle name is Danger.”
Oakland Danger Gillingham-Purvis will no doubt be shielded from danger by his parents’ wide support system.
The couple live across the street from Purvis’ mom, and his aunt and grandmother each live just a few houses away.
“We’ll have lots of support,” said Gillingham, 23, adding that she’s excited to experience the journey of motherhood.
Purvis said being a parent meant a lot to both he and Gillingham, who was adopted from Russia at the age of 4.
“I think she’s looking forward to giving the baby something she didn’t necessarily have growing up,” said Purvis. “It’s a big thing for her to have a family that sticks together.”
As for Purvis, a first-time father, “It’s all about making sure he doesn’t get hurt and making sure he’s safe is the number one thing, and making sure that Grandma spoils him enough,” he said with a smile.
