For paramedics, delivering babies provides joy on dark days

When paramedic Grant Orbin arrived at the home of Desiree Viswanathan last April, he had already helped deliver 30 babies during his career.

But for his younger partner, Chris Kremer, he was about to have his first experience.

“I was glad I had him that day,” Kremer said.

Viswanathan and her husband headed to Foothills Hospital where they thought they were going to have their first child, but were told she wasn’t far along enough, it would be a few more days and to head back home.

But things progressed quickly and not thinking they would make it back in time, they called 911 with Kremer and Orbin arriving soon.

The delivery went smoothly in the ambulance and baby Sachin was born healthy.

“We never expected it to be that way, they helped us tremendously and we were so grateful for them being there and being able to come so quickly,” she said.

Kremer said he’ll cherish the experience as well.

“So much of the people we deal with, it’s a negative experience for everybody involved and it weighs on us,” he said. “To finally have a positive outcome and deliver a baby, it was a magical experience.”

Emergency responders met with five babies they helped deliver Thursday in Calgary, as part of National Paramedics Week:

RACHEL

Ironically enough, Kremer would help deliver his second baby the next month, when he and partner Leah Lavers arrived at the Duff home in Bankview.

The family planned to deliver in the hospital, but mother Sarah felt the baby coming fast, so their midwife told them to call 911.

Dispatch was helping father Fergal in case the paramedics couldn’t make it in time.

“I was ready to do the job, but I was glad to see the blue lights when they did turn up,” he said. “These guys were great, it couldn’t have been better and they were so calming for everybody.”

Kremer and Lavers took it from there and had a smooth delivery for little Rachel, the parents’ second daughter.

“I feel like I’m pretty lucky,” Lavers said. “A lot of times we don’t have a lot of positives in our career, we deal with a lot of different things like overdoses and deaths, so it’s always nice to bring life into the world and to be able to have a happy experience.”

JADEN

Shirme Doshi barely made it to the hospital for her first child and back in November she knew her second was going to be fast again.

She and her husband headed to the hospital, but she wasn’t that far along, so they returned to their Wentworth home around 2 a.m.

Four hours later, the contractions picked up.

“In the time it took me to get changed, there was no way I was making it down the stairs,” she said, adding her water broke while her husband was on the phone with dispatch.

As they were coaching her husband, Phillip Montgomery and his partner arrived just before the baby was about to come out.

“They were remarkable, they had everything prepped, they knew exactly what to do, it was fantastic,” Montgomery said, helping deliver her son Jaden before bringing them to the hospital for recovery.

“That’s what gets us through the day most of the time,” Montgomery said. “We see a lot of the hardships and the whole side of life where it’s not so nice to see, and having this, where little Jaden is born in the world healthy, it’s remarkable, you can’t ask for anything better in our careers.”

KAYSON

Kristin Bond had been in labour for a few days in June, and like many other mothers, was sent back to her Chestermere home.

After a few hours, she knew her second baby was on the way and her sister called 911, with paramedics arriving soon, including Jamie Hogan.

After about 20 minutes, Kayson was born in the ambulance en route to Rockyview Hospital.

“It was all very quick, but honestly very happy that we had first responders so quick out in Chestermere,” she said.

Hogan said Bond did very well during the birth, adding they had a celebration inside while on Glenmore Trail.

“We do deal with the very negative,” Hogan said. “With Kristen, we got to see the whole procedure, got to see the happiness, we were there with her the whole time, so it’s always such a relief and heart-touching experience.”

ALICE

Daniel Vandenbrink got home from work to his wife Rebecca in labour, suggesting they should call an ambulance.

“I’m like no, we can make it to Foothills, don’t worry I can drive efficiently,” he said with a smile. “On the way there, Becky stopped me at Stoney and Country Hills and said, stop, we’re calling an ambulance.”

It was a good thing she did, because Van Brink started the delivery process for their first child before emergency crews showed up, including paramedic Kat Yokom.

Two minutes after getting inside, daughter Alice was born.

“It was really overwhelming,” she said. “It is the scariest moment in our lives, to be in the car delivering a baby by yourself.”

Van Den Brink shed tears as she reunited with Yokom, who is almost eight months pregnant herself.

“We were so scared and they just remained calm,” Van Den Brink said. “To be able to meet them again is incredible, to actually be able to say thank you for delivering our daughter and for making sure it was a safe delivery.”

It was only Yokom’s second delivery.

“It’s such a wonderful experience,” she said. “It’s so positive when traditionally we are involved in more sad, unfortunate circumstances.”

“They do all the work and we get all the credit, so you can’t complain about that.”