Brevard Father and Daughter Celebrate Milestone Birthdays at Same Hospital Where She Was Born – and Now Works

By  //  October 5, 2021

Breck Olsen and Gene Olsen celebrate birthdays at Cape Canaveral Hospital

Today is Breck Olsen Lutz’s 30th birthday, above center. And today is also her father, Gene Olsen’s, birthday…as he turns 60 years old, above with Breck’s mom Debbie. Not only was Breck born at Health First’s Cape Canaveral Hospital, but she also works there as Support Services Supervisor for the hospital’s Laboratory… mere steps from the unit where she was born. (Health First image)

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Today is Breck Olsen Lutz’s 30th birthday. And today is also her father, Gene Olsen’s, birthday…as he turns 60 years old.

The odds of sharing a birthday with even one biological parent is extremely rare (odds are approximately 1:140,000 births), in addition to both celebrating a 30/60 milestone.

But this birthday story has still more twists and turns.

Not only was Breck born at Health First’s Cape Canaveral Hospital, but she also works there as Support Services Supervisor for the hospital’s Laboratory… mere steps from the unit where she was born.

Breck Olsen Lutz, foreground, with her birth documents and first baby pictures taken at Cape Canaveral Hospital 30 years ago. Looking on are her parents Gene and Debbie. Lutz now works at CCH as Support Services Supervisor for the hospital’s Laboratory – mere steps from the unit where she was born. (Health First image)

But let’s go back for a minute…

30 years ago today was initially going to be all about dad, Gene, celebrating the big 3-0. As a military contractor, Gene was thousands of miles away on Ascension Island awaiting a military transport home to Patrick Air Force Base in order to celebrate his birthday and planned to then remain home in Florida for his daughter’s expected arrival in early November – more than a month away.

But baby Breck would have no part in letting dad have his own day.

“Back then, cell phones were obviously still very limited technology, and we were only allowed very few, brief three-minute calls through the Patrick operators,” recalled Gene.

“I was calling the house with no answer and again called the house from my connection point in Antigua. My father-in-law answered saying, ‘you’d better hurry, Debbie’s in labor!’ I thought, Oh my God, it’s another three-hour flight from here.”

Suddenly Gene was in a race against time to make the birthday celebration … but not his, his DAUGHTER’S!

“I was already in contractions and remember being able to see his C-141 plane approaching from the East over the Atlantic telling everyone … ‘the plane, the plane!”

After thousands of miles, numerous unanswered phone calls, and final sprint home, Gene arrived at Cape Canaveral Hospital just in time to see his daughter delivered … with 30 minutes to spare.

Recounting those moments – from the same view she had 30 years ago, Debbie had one parting feeling as the family left the room: “You know, Cape Canaveral has always been our hospital.”

Located just off State Road 520 on the Banana River in Cocoa Beach, Cape Canaveral Hospital features 150 beds and 240 highly skilled Medical Staff members. Cape Canaveral Hospital features a 21-bed Level II Emergency Department and an adjoining six-story Medical Plaza that includes physician’s offices, a conference center, pre-operative testing, outpatient registration for laboratory testing and same-day surgery, as well as a Health Resource Center for the community. (Health First image)
HOT OFF THE PRESS! Sept. 27, 2021 Space Coast Daily News – Brevard County’s Best NewspaperRelated Story:
HOT OFF THE PRESS! Sept. 27, 2021 Space Coast Daily News – Brevard County’s Best Newspaper