Richard and Kelli Simpson were very thankful when they heard sirens coming toward their house answering their 911 call.
Kelli had awakened early Friday morning, Dec. 30, having contractions, but the baby wasn’t due for a few more weeks. Eventually they stopped and she went on with her day.
Later that afternoon she woke up having contractions again after taking a nap with her one-and-a-half year-old son. She alerted her husband who had the car pre-prepared for a trip to the hospital, but a hospital delivery was not going to happen. When she managed to get down the steps into the garage, she realized they needed to call 911. She was unable to get in the car and Richard opened the hatch on the SUV and she braced herself on the trunk area.
That is where a Portland firemen and the Sumner County EMS found her when they arrived. According to Kelli, she could feel the baby’s head. They had just enough time to get her on the cot before the baby was born. An EMS paramedic is credited with delivering the baby, then Portland Fire Chief Isaac Reynolds suctioned the baby and handed him to the paramedic. Everyone was thankful when the baby started crying because they knew that all was going to be fine.
Reynolds said that usually when they get these calls, it’s just a matter of getting the expectant mother to relax and take some deep breaths. Then they take some vitals and make sure there is time to get the mother to the hospital, if necessary; but this time, he said they could tell the mother was in active labor and this baby was on its way.
“It was definitely something special. I’ll never forget it. When the baby started crying, everyone gave a sigh of relief,” Reynolds said. “All the guys on the scene were amazing. It was definitely exciting, just knowing we were a part of that. I will always be a part of that baby’s life, as he grows up.”
Reynolds added that he always hoped that his work as a fireman would make a difference in people’s lives and he feels this time it did.
According to Kelli, it was a relief to hear the baby crying because hospitals have everything a baby might need if there were a problem, and they were in her garage.
“I am thankful,” Kelli said.
Reynolds said that all fire engines and EMS vehicles are equipped with OB Kits to be used in situations like this.
Baby Jack joins his sister Aubrey (9 years old) and brother Cameron (1 l/2 year old).
