Baby born with lucky ‘caul’ on Solar Eclipse Day

Once in a blue moon — or solar eclipse, as it were — a baby is born with a “caul,” or a portion of the amniotic membrane still covering their head and face. Occurring in only one out of every 80,000 births, many cultures believe this harmless phenomenon to be a lucky omen, and consider the child destined for greatness.

If that’s the case, then we should expect especially great things from six-pound Ali Gonzalez, born with a caul at 10:09 a.m. Monday at HCA Healthcare’s West Valley Medical Center — exactly one minute before the solar eclipse began in Caldwell, Idaho.

“She is very special,” agreed mother Elena Garcia of the newest member of her family – her fourth child and third daughter.

The city of Caldwell was just a few miles south of totality, viewing approximately 99.8 percent of the eclipse.

To commemorate the auspicious event, the West Valley Volunteer Auxiliary presented Ali and her parents — Garcia and Zechiel Gonzalez of Caldwell — with a certificate and gift basket, including eclipse viewing glasses, a handmade blanket, and other moon- and star-themed baby goods. The Auxiliary had already planned to give a gift to the baby born closest to the eclipse Monday; the rare circumstances around Ali’s birth only added to the excitement.

Hear more from the new parents about their lucky little lady on the local ABC affiliate here.

West Valley Medical Center is an affiliate of HCA Healthcare’s Mountain Division, a healthcare system of hospitals, clinics and outpatient centers in Idaho, Utah and Alaska. 

This content was provided by West Valley Medical Center. Follow them on Facebook.