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UPDATED: 911 operator helps Red Deer couple during birth

Meet for the first time Thursday
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A Red Deer 911 operator stole the glory from paramedics on Oct. 13 when she helped a couple during the unexpected delivery of their son.

Rachel Stearns was eight days overdue so she went with her husband, Jason, to Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre to be induced. About an hour after the couple returned home to wait, Rachel had a couple of contractions and decided to return to hospital. But the baby didn’t want to wait.

Jason said he dialed 911 and barely had time to talk before he had to deliver his son.

“Within 30 seconds of me putting the phone down my wife was holding the baby. He was crying and we were ready to get the umbilical cord cut,” Jason said on Thursday when his family met the 911 operator who answered his call that day.

He said while he delivered the baby, Holly Shrader, communications lieutenant with Red Deer Emergency Services, was on speaker phone providing guidance.

“I got down there and delivered him. His cord was around his neck twice. Got him untangled. Got him breathing, and handed him off to (Rachel).”

He said Shrader was helpful and walked them through what to do.

“It was just nice to have that reassurance on the phone. I don’t know anything about delivering babies. It can go many different ways so it was just nice to have her on the phone there and be by your side almost.”

They didn’t know they were having a boy, they named Daxton Duke Stearns, so it was an incredible moment for them, he said.

“One day we’ll be able to share this story with Daxton. It was definitely a Friday the 13th to remember in a good way.”

He said their son Cooper, 2, was also induced and they waited at home for three hours before going back to the hospital.

“We thought we were going through the same routine, but I guess every story is a little bit different,” Jason said.

Rachel said she couldn’t believe what was happening. It was scary but both Shrader and the paramedics were awesome.

“We had no idea what to do and they were calm and supportive. They stayed in touch with us since then. We just can’t thank them enough for the happy outcome,” Rachel said.

Shrader said it was the second time she has helped a woman giving birth.

“Normally it doesn’t happen that fast, even close to that fast, so usually we start off giving directions on what to do and then paramedics swoop in and take all the glory before the baby is born,” Shrader joked.

“The paramedics could have been parked right in front of their house and they still wouldn’t have made it in in time I don’t think.”

She said 911 calls do not always have a happy ending, but everything went well with the Stearns.

“It was an awesome day. It makes your day, your week, your year,” Shrader said while rocking Daxton in her arms.



szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com

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