A couple is grateful to firefighters in Newburyport, Massachusetts, who helped them bring their baby into the world.
Memory Chihwayi embraced firefighter Robert Morse Friday in her hospital room. She thanked him numerous times for taking care of her, and delivering her baby safely in the fire department parking lot inside her car.
Chihwayi, a Haverhill resident, had been to the hospital earlier in the day on Thursday, but they sent her home, saying she wasn’t ready to give birth.
She went home and took a bath and alerted her husband it was time. They hopped in the car, but on their way there, Chihwayi said she could feel the baby coming out. She and her husband looked for a place they could get help, and they spotted the Newburyport Fire Department.
They pulled into the parking lot, and her husband hopped out and banged on the garage doors.
"I didn't know what to do at all," said Humphrey Matombo. "I'm like, 'Oh, man, not right now."
Baby Jayden was ready, so Morse, Josh Mesina and John Strombley jumped into action.
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"I looked in there and I saw it," said Mesina. "I was going to say, 'Call 911,' but I didn't because we are 911."
They delivered the baby without any complications besides the umbilical chord being wrapped around the baby's neck. But the firefighters took care of it.
"It just happened so fast," Mesina said. "Pretty crazy."
The family and firefighters, once strangers, are now bound forever in one of life's great joys.
"Mom did all the work," said Morse. "We were just there to help."
