SPECIAL DELIVERY

December 26th, 2003 was not a good day to travel from Logan, Utah to Fountain, Colorado. There was a terrible winter storm dropping large, fluffy flakes. Visibility was very poor, the road conditions were worse than frightful and worse yet, the storm was heading east and would follow us the whole trip. Nevertheless, our son Dan and his wife Stephanie had to get back home before his leave time ran out.

Dan was an officer in the Air Force, stationed in Colorado and his wife was large with their first child. I had been elected to help them make the trip by following them in our vehicle and by carrying some of their belongings. My biggest fear, even scarier than breaking down in the storm, was that Steph would have the baby before we got there and before we could get to a hospital that could help her. Her due date was the early part of February of 2004 and she had contemplated not coming along, but instead, flying home.

Nevertheless, after consulting with her doctor, she decided she would be fine. My wife, Jean, a registered nurse, with a BSN in nursing, had given me careful instructions on how to deliver a baby in an automobile and also had handed me an emergency first aid book to help me remember the most important details of the procedure.

We began our white knuckled excursion and I had some bad forebodings about our likelihood of getting to their home without some serious problems. Dan could see thru the snow, better than I could and drove faster than I felt was safe, but I had to keep up, for fear of losing him thru the fog and blizzard. We had cell phones to communicate and when we stopped for gasoline Dan would say things like, "Ah Dad, it's not so bad." Steph would comment, "Was it bad? Guess I didn't notice, I was sleeping."

Later, on several occasions, the visibility was so lousy, that on a three lane highway, all three lanes heading roughly east, we could not tell where the lanes were. Snow plows had not yet reached many of the highways that we traveled and it was particularly treacherous thru Vail, Colorado. I pictured our vehicles going off the edge of a cliff, but God protected us despite my misgivings.

When we finally reached Peterson Air Force Base, (AFB) outside of Fountain, late at night, I heaved a sigh. All three of us stayed in temporary billets at Peterson. After a short sleep night, morning broke and we headed for fast food at a local drive-in on base and then went to wash the cars that were covered with road grime. About half way thru the hand washing car wash, Steph let out a yell. I figured she was joking, since she was usually so quiet and uncomplaining.

I turned to look at her and she said to her husband, "I think my water just broke." I thought...well that's OK, we're not on the highway in the middle of a blizzard anymore. My emergency procedure medical book tells me that the average woman gives birth between six to eight hours after her water breaks. I told this to Steph and her reply was a high pitched, frantic scream, "I'm not average, my mom delivered all of us within 20 minutes of her water breaking! I feel like this baby wants to come NOW!!

We finished washing the cars immediately and Dan began frantically looking thru a Peterson AFB phone book for a map. Steph began some rather loud moans and buried her head in Dan's shoulder. She was pre-registered at Fort Carson Army Hospital. None of us had any idea how far away Fort Carson was or where the hospital was located on the post. Dan suddenly tossed me the phone book and said, "Dad, find the number for Fort Carson Hospital!!"

I began frantically looking but with no success and finally, Dan blurted out..."Nevermind, I'll call the Peterson 911!" We had parked near the front gate of this tiny AFB and we were suddenly met by one huge Air Force Fire Truck, an Air Force Ambulance and an Air Force Security Police Pickup Truck, all for one little baby!

The medics examined her and said, "She's right, the baby is almost here! Follow us in the ambulance!" Steph was with the medics, Dan parked their car and joined Steph and I followed the ambulance as we rushed down the highway with the sirens. On the way, we passed a sign that pointed to Fort Carson, the other way. I thought, are they lost? Where are they taking us? They had called ahead to a local civilian hospital that was authorized for emergency situations. Within ten minutes we were there and Dan motioned for me to go find a parking place while he went with Steph.

By the time I got the car parked and found labor and delivery, the baby had already been born. She had their child in record time! If her water had broke just a day earlier...I shudder at the thought. Keagan Ray, as of this writing, (Feb 2007) is a little over three years old, healthy and strong. His Dad, who also speaks French, communicates with him in that language. His mother speaks to him in English. He is growing up bilingual. Thank God for His mercies in allowing this special delivery to come forth in safety.