Cocoa mom gives birth to fourth baby. He'll celebrate his birthday once every four years

Michelle Spitzer, Florida Today
Updated ·2 min read

Kimberly Dehler immediately started researching online as soon as she found out the date of her planned cesarean section.

The Cocoa mom, who already had three children, didn’t look up info on the surgery, tips for recovery or anything like that.

“I wanted to see how complicated his life would be if he was born on that day,” Dehler told FLORIDA TODAY in a telephone interview Thursday, a few hours after welcoming her baby boy.

That day in question was Feb. 29, better known as Leap Day, which occurs once every four years.

“I found some people had problems filling forms out when they had to enter their birthday, but I also found that people born on that day have formed their own community,” Dehler said while her new baby Draven made cooing sounds in the background.

How many babies born in Brevard on Leap Day?

Baby Draven Dehler was born to Kimberly and Jason Dehler, of Cocoa, on Leap Day at Holmes Regional Medical Center.
Baby Draven Dehler was born to Kimberly and Jason Dehler, of Cocoa, on Leap Day at Holmes Regional Medical Center.

Draven, an 8-pound baby, was born at 9:25 am at Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne.

As of late Thursday afternoon, Draven was one of five babies born at Holmes on Leap Day. Over at Cape Canaveral Hospital, they welcomed at least three leapings or leapers, as they are affectionally called.

The fourth baby will celebrate every four years

It's fitting that Draven will celebrate his birthday once every four years given he is the fourth sibling in the Dehler family.

Also worth noting: Mom, Dad Jason, 11-year-old son Drake and daughters Trevi, 9, and Venice, 5, all celebrate their birthdays in either October or November.

“He (Draven) is definitely the odd ball out,” Dehler said. “He picked his own path in being a special little guy.”

When will this new Brevard Leap Day baby celebrate his birthday?

Baby Draven Dehler, who will have a birthday once every four year is appropriately the fourth sibling in the family. Here he is hours old in this picture with Mom Kimberly, Dad Jason, brother Drake, sisters Trevi and Venice and Grandma Rebecca Smith.
Baby Draven Dehler, who will have a birthday once every four year is appropriately the fourth sibling in the family. Here he is hours old in this picture with Mom Kimberly, Dad Jason, brother Drake, sisters Trevi and Venice and Grandma Rebecca Smith.

Mom said since Draven was born in February, they will likely celebrate Feb. 28th. On second thought, she reconsidered and said the celebration may extend to March 1 resulting in two birthdays.

One thing was for sure, every four years when Feb. 29 does come up on the calendar, the celebration will be memorable.

“We’ll make it a big birthday when he does have it,” Dehler said.

Spitzer can be reached at Mspitzer@floridatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: How Leap Day baby born in Florida will celebrate his birthday