By Dave Rogers
The Daily News
AMESBURY, Mass. — As it turned out, the baby just couldn’t wait until her mother made it to the hospital. Instead, with the help of Amesbury firefighters John Kane, Ryan Casey and Michael Burke, she came into the world Tuesday at 5:02 p.m. alongside Interstate 95 south just over the Whittier Memorial Bridge.
The afternoon’s excitement began at 4:40 p.m., when the three firefighters/paramedics were dispatched to the mother’s Cedar Street residence for a planned home delivery with some complications. The mother, in active labor, was loaded into an ambulance for a trip to Anna Jaques Hospital in Newburyport.
“The child had different plans for our group,” Amesbury fire Chief Ken Berkenbush said during a press conference outside Amesbury fire headquarters on School Street.
When it became apparent the baby wasn’t going to wait until arriving at the hospital, the decision was made to pull over and have the birth take place there and then.
Kane said it made sense to pull over and deliver the baby while stationary as opposed to while the ambulance was in motion.
“Mom did a great job. She did all the work. We were just part of it,” Kane said.
In recognition of their quick thinking and professionalism, Kane, Casey and Burke received specialized Amesbury firefighter patches, each with a pink stork attached. Mayor Ken Gray was also bestowing gifts yesterday, giving each of them special proclamations.
“I couldn’t be more proud,” Gray said. “We look forward to meeting the new delivery.”
While Kane had helped deliver a baby before, Tuesday’s delivery was the first for Casey and Burke.
Casey said part of his training is to be ready for anything at any time and that was sure the case that afternoon.
“Stay calm and do what you have to do,” Casey said. “It was a nice day for all of us.”
Copyright 2016 The Daily News of Newburyport