Baby born to Syrian refugees in Ottawa 'symbol for optimism,' family says

In an apartment near Mooney's Bay, tiny, five-day-old Zain Alqaddor sleeps peacefully in the arms of his mother Naima Mohammad Falah.

The baby was born in the Ottawa Hospital just two months after his family arrived in Ottawa, having fled the bloodshed and daily terrors of their homeland, Syria.

Baby Zain is believed to be the first child born in Ottawa to a family that arrived in the recent wave of refugees from Syria.

The government-sponsored family of six now live in a quiet, immaculately-kept two-bedroom apartment in the city's south end. The two eldest children are already attending public school, and the third child will enter kindergarten next September.

'Everything that is beautiful'

"They can actually live peacefully here. They can go to school and have a future,"Falahsaidthrough an interpreter. She added her Canadian-born sonis "a symbol for optimism, peace of mind and everything that is beautiful."

Zain's father Alman Alqaddor, also speaking through an interpreter, spoke about the dire conditions that compelledthe family to abandontheir home town ofDaraa insouthern Syrianhow the constant bombing andthe sight of dead bodies in the streetscaused his children towet their beds andwake up screamingin the middle of the night.

The family spent twoyears in Jordanpart of the time in a refugee camp, waiting to be resettled. Falah said it was difficult being pregnant with so much uncertaintyin their lives.

"We knew we were alive today, but God knows where we would be tomorrow."

Baby boom expected

Local organizations that offer prenatal care and support to low income families are gearing up for a small baby boomas a result of the influx ofSyrian refugees, who traditionally have larger families than Canadian-born parents. Over the weekend, MothercraftOttawa trained nine Arabic volunteers in anticipation of the growing need.

Thefamily saysthe Canadians they'vemet have been welcoming and helpful, giving themclothing and diapers for the baby. The family isexpecting a new cradle to be delivered by a volunteer tomorrow.

They miss their extended family and friends still in Syria, Falah said. But she said she's thankful for the help and friendship of the Canadian people.