We’ve seen a lot of things going on at the intersection of 9th Ave and Madison but we’ve never anything quite like this. The scene: a parking enforcement officer, a cop, a brave father and a very, very pregnant mother. Here’s a tale of the miracle of life straight from First Hill. Take it away SPD Blotter:
On June 29th at approximately 1:00 p.m. a parking enforcement officer (PEO) was in the process of writing a ticket in the 900 block of 9th Avenue when he noticed a man waving at him from a vehicle stopped on the southeast corner of the intersection of 9th Avenue and Madison Street. The PEO walked over to the man who proceeded to explain that his wife was giving birth to a baby inside the vehicle and wanted the PEO to give him an escort to the hospital. The PEO informed the husband that he was a parking enforcement officer with a scooter and was thus unable to provide an escort however, he did offer to call a uniformed officer or SFD medics. The husband insisted on an escort.
The PEO then noticed an SPD patrol car parked close to a nearby restaurant. The PEO went inside the restaurant and found a police officer sitting at a table. The PEO explained the situation to the officer and asked him if he would be able to provide an escort. The officer said that he would.
The PEO and the uniformed police officer returned to the husband’s vehicle when the PEO noticed that the baby’s head had already come out. The PEO realized that an escort would not be a good option and called for SFD medics to respond.
The husband then told the PEO that he had medical training and that he had taken classes on delivering babies. The husband then began to deliver the baby. The PEO informed the husband that medics would be arriving in several minutes to assist him.
SFD medics arrived on scene a few minutes later. By that point the baby was born and the husband was holding his new baby boy.
SFD medics transported the mother and healthy baby boy to an area hospital for follow up care.
Happy birthday. First Hill-themed name suggestions?
Like in Splash.
Agree with Christopher575, “Madison” would be an apropos name.
They were just a few blocks from Virginia Mason. Obviously not Virginia (for a boy), but Mason is cool. Madison sounds more like a girls name to me.
Of course, they probably did already have names picked out, duh? If they were prepared enough for daddy-to-be to have taken classes on delivering babies, you’d expect name alternatives would’ve been tackled long ago.
“Mason” is the rich kid in the pink polo shirt whose dad wants to convert the youth center into luxury condos. “Madison” can make electronics explode with his voice. To me, the choice is clear: Name him Nick.
Given the corner where he was born, Vito seems like the perfect name. Or George.
It has to be Vito.
In honor of his delivery room.
No matter, where, when how …. the only choice is Christopher David.
It would be great to know the child’s name for sure. It is such a lovely story.
Birth of the next generation has always had collective implications. Which means, yep, great story. And I suggest a college fund. First ten here.
Any name will be perfect. There was a Vito, maybe still alive? My dad used to go drinking there, and some sort of illicit card game …. the old Vitos.
In the time that it took him to talk to the PEO, the officer, and wait for the medics they could have easily driven to any of the three hospitals within a few blocks of that intersection. Note to expecting fathers: knowing the location of the hospital is probably more useful than how to deliver the baby.
Right on – and the emergency room folks are well prepared – have been there many times – good advice. Course, calm, cool and collected, mostly they arn’t.
*definitely* george.
What, and have the baby drop out on the sidewalk? Have you seen Seattle’s sidewalks lately? Yuk!