‘Such a special moment’: Sisters-Camp Sherman medics rushing expectant mom to hospital aid in baby girl’s roadside arrival
(Update: adding video, comments from paramedics)
SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Cody Meredith and Pat Burke from Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District were eating breakfast at the station right before they received a medical call for a woman in labor. Little did they know they were going to be making a very special delivery.
Last Saturday, a crew was dispatched with lights and sirens to a medical call for a woman in labor. Upon arrival, the ambulance crew quickly confirmed the patient was in active labor, with just a couple of minutes between contractions.
The patient and her significant other were assisted to the ambulance and crews began to transport the couple in urgent fashion, with lights and sirens, to the Bend hospital.
As the paramedics were assessing her in the back of the vehicle, it became evident that she was going to have to give birth in the ambulance.
"You don't get to process it until it's over with," Shift Commander Cody Meredith recalled Thursday. "A lot of times with these type of calls, we lean on our training. We just try to treat the patient and do what we need to do in the moment, and the feelings of the event tend to come on after the call."
The paramedics say the ambulance was in the process of pulling over along the highway when the mother gave birth. Both paramedics couldn't see exactly where they were because they were in the back, but that it was in the Tumalo area.
Paramedic/Engineer Pat Burke said, "Dad got back here and cut the cord. And then we got back on the road and went to the hospital."
They eventually arrived to St. Charles Bend and were greeted by the whole ER staff.
Meredith recalled, "Everybody was all smiles and wanting to see the baby and mama and congratulate everybody. It was a really cool moment there."
According to Fire Chief Roger Johnson, paramedics are trained to handle this type of scenario. Still, labor and delivery calls are not routine calls for service.
It was the first baby delivery for both Meredith and Burke. The two medics have been working together for years and were glad to share the experience together.
"This is a moment that we shared for the rest of our careers," Meredith said. "Yeah, it definitely brought us closer together."
Burke added, "It was nice having my partner there."
The two paramedics say there were no complications during the birth and the baby girl is doing well. The Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District said it wished to congratulate the family on their new addition.
"Mom did a great job. She was a rock star." Burke said.
"it was amazing to be part of that day with that family," Meredith added. "It's such a special moment, and something that's so rare for us to be a part of."
