7/7/07 birth almost missed the mark

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky., July 11 (UPI) -- The parents of a baby girl born on the seventh day of the seventh month of 2007 in Fort Campbell, Ky., say the newborn almost missed the lucky birthday.

John and Kerry Luckey, parents of EmLee Rae Luckey, said they wondered if the birthdate was possible when they discovered Kerry was pregnant and due on July 22. They had abandoned the thought when the date began to draw near, the Clarksville (Tenn.) Leaf-Chronicle reported Wednesday.

"Last week, I wasn't having any contractions, so I gave up hope that she was coming" on July 7, Kerry Luckey said.

However, she said her obstetrician, Dr. Lisa Pierson, raised some concerns during a July 6 checkup that led to the decision to induce labor.

Kerry said her husband encouraged her to tough out the labor and wait to deliver the baby until after midnight passed and July 7 began.

"He kept saying, 'Five more hours.' 'Four more hours.' 'Three more hours,'" she said.

EmLee was born at 1:22 a.m. July 7.

"Triple 7s is supposed to be lucky," Kerry said. "It's kind of cool to have a birthday like that. I have a friend whose baby was born 1/9/91."