'We came out on top': Melbourne baby born during Hurricane Ian

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — During all of the chaos and destruction that Hurricane Ian brought to the Sunshine State, a bundle of joy was delivered Wednesday.

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After 20 hours of labor, Melbourne mother Hanna-Kay Williams gave birth to a healthy baby girl at Health First’s Holmes Regional Medical Center.

Read: Hurricane Ian: 9 surreal photos & videos in Florida

Wajiha, which Williams said means “beautiful and glorious woman,” was born at 10:11 p.m., weighing in at 7 pounds and 13 ounces.

Read: Riverdale Elementary floods after Hurricane Ian passes through Orange County

Williams, her fiancé and her mother drove through the heavy rain and wind to get to the hospital and arrived Wednesday morning at 2 a.m.

“I don’t even remember driving through the storms because I was in my own mental hurricane,” Williams said.

Read: Brevard County utilities ask residents to conserve water after Hurricane Ian

An emergency C-section was needed since the baby started going into distress, but Williams said her faith and family spirit helped them stay strong during the difficult time, in addition to the severe weather.

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'We came out on top’: Melbourne baby born during Hurricane Ian Hanna-Kay Williams (Health First/Health First)

“We came out on top, we definitely did,” Williams said. “I felt when she first arrive and they sat her on my lap, the first thing I said was, ‘that’s a big baby,’ and then I looked at her and thought, ‘that’s my twin’ even though I already have a fraternal twin.”

The mother and her baby are healthy and doing fine.

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