Mom Cara Herrington of Mesachie Lake was expecting her second child on March 11, but wanted it to be over with sooner B次元官网网址� something a lot of expecting moms can understand. She wasnB次元官网网址檛 ready for the birth to happen when it did, however.

B次元官网网址淚 was waiting and waiting, hoping she would come early,B次元官网网址� Herrington said. B次元官网网址淏ut not as fast as she did.B次元官网网址�

Herrington woke up around 4:15 a.m. on Sunday, March 7, when her water broke. After calling the hospital for advice, she was making her way downstairs to the door when she had two quick contractions and knew there wasnB次元官网网址檛 enough time to make the drive to Duncan.

B次元官网网址淚 looked at my husband and said, B次元官网网址楥all an ambulance. IB次元官网网址檓 not going to do this in the car, and weB次元官网网址檙e not going to make it [to the hospital],B次元官网网址� Herrington remembered.

An ambulance was on its way from Lake Cowichan, and the dispatcher instructed Herrington to get to an open space in the house, so she went from the mud room to the living room. Her husband, Shaun, just happens to be a four-year member of the Mesachie Lake Volunteer Fire Department. He sent for his colleagues just in case the ambulance didnB次元官网网址檛 arrive in time. Of course, by nature of the small community, as soon as they got the call that someone was giving birth, they knew exactly who it was.

Shaun was still on the phone with the dispatcher when Cara started getting B次元官网网址渟mall urges to start pushing.B次元官网网址� The dispatcher B次元官网网址渟witched gears,B次元官网网址� Herrington recalled, preparing the family for a home birth. Get some string, she told them, a bobby pin, and scissors.

The ambulance arrived in about 10 minutes, and when Cara and Shaun opened their front door to walk to the ambulance, the entire fire department was standing outside.

B次元官网网址淚t was like, B次元官网网址榟ey boys,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Herrington laughed.

Cara was strapped into a gurney and was loaded into the ambulance. With Shaun preparing to drive the family car to Duncan, deputy fire chief and close family friend Tyson Allnutt was given the job of riding with Cara in case the paramedics needed a hand.

They hadnB次元官网网址檛 even left the driveway when Cara told them to stop.

B次元官网网址淒onB次元官网网址檛 go anywhere,B次元官网网址� she told them. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not going to make it.B次元官网网址�

Neither of the paramedics B次元官网网址� both named Sarah B次元官网网址� had delivered a baby before, but they were going to have to do it this time.

In CaraB次元官网网址檚 telling, it was a relatively easy birth, as these things go. One really strong contraction, and the babyB次元官网网址檚 head was completely out. The next contraction got her out past her shoulders. By 4:45 a.m. B次元官网网址� half an hour after Cara woke up B次元官网网址� Violet Luene Herrington was out in the world, surprising all the responders.

B次元官网网址淭hey were all kind of looking at each other, like, B次元官网网址極K, thereB次元官网网址檚 a baby here now,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Herrington recalled. B次元官网网址淢y husband and Tyson looked at each other, B次元官网网址楾hat was crazy.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

Like all firefighters, Allnutt had trained for such a situation, but never expected to be part of a birth.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 one of those things, you practice for it, and then you joke around that itB次元官网网址檚 never going to happen,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hen it happens.B次元官网网址�

Both paramedics, Sarah Mooney and Sarah Spencer, were excited to take part in their first delivery. Mooney has been a paramedic with BC Emergency Health Services for 12 years, including 10 in Lake Cowichan, and Spencer has been a paramedic for more than four years, including three in Lake Cowichan. Emergency responders earn a stork pin for attending their first birth.

B次元官网网址淓ven though they were nervous about it, they were excited about it,B次元官网网址� Herrington said.

After the birth, Violet was cleaned up and taken to hospital in Duncan, where they confirmed that she was healthy. She is now home with mom Cara, dad Shaun and two-and-a-half-year-old sister Charlotte. CharlotteB次元官网网址檚 own birth came after a relatively quick eight hours of labour, but that was ages when compared to VioletB次元官网网址檚. Charlotte has been very welcoming to the newest addition.

B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 been very helpful, very loving,B次元官网网址� Herrington reported. B次元官网网址淪he said, B次元官网网址業B次元官网网址檝e been waiting to hold her in my arms.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

For Allnutt and the rest of the fire department, it was a unique event in multiple ways. ItB次元官网网址檚 much more common for firefighters to attend tragedies than miracles.

B次元官网网址淭he coolest part is that normally, where a life would be lost, in the back of an ambulance, a life was gained.B次元官网网址�

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