Fort Salonga Couple Welcomes New Year’s Grandbaby

A Crab Meadow couple was visiting family in Texas just in time for their grandson be born on New Year’s Day.

Nicholas "Nico" Chandler Prochilo came into this world at 7:38 a.m., just two weeks before his due date.

Nick and Inken Prochilo have a knack for being in the right place at the right time. In 2015, they were also visiting family in Texas when their granddaughter Savannah was born five weeks early on Easter Sunday.

Their son Jason Prochilo, a Fort Salonga native who now lives in Texas, joked that his parents might be baby whisperers who induce labor.

“Personally, I think the fact that I live out of state and my parents happened to be in town both times my kids were born is pretty incredible and very fortunate,” Jason told Patch.

Savannah and Nicholas are Nick and Inken’s only grandchildren.

“Each time they were scheduled to leave either the same or next day, they decided to reschedule their flights to see the newest family additions,” Jason said.

Nick and Inken are lifelong residents of the Crabmeadow area of Fort Salonga. They graduated elementary, middle and high school together, got married and bought a house right around the corner from both their parents’ homes. Nick has been a volunteer for the Northport Fire Department Volunteer for more than 25 years.

Jason’s grandfather Louis still lives in the house his father Nick grew up in. Nicholas is Louis’ first great-grandson who will carry the family name.

Jason grew up and lived in Crab Meadow for the first 20 years of his life. He served in the Marine Corps for the next nine years before getting married and settling down in Texas.

“If someone in the Northport area is past their due date, send my parents to see them!” Jason said.

Images courtesy of Jason Prochilo

1. Nick, Nico and Inken
   
2. Savannah, Jason and Nico
   
3. Savannah, Jason and Nico
   
4. Nico, 48 hours old, ready to rock and roll and get to his first doctor appointment
5. Inken, Savannah and Nick walking
   
6. Nick, Nico, Inken and Savannah all in the hospital shortly after delivery