Soldier aids Air Force spouse during rare child delivery

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Lindsey Maurice
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  "It's time!" she said, with a slight strain in her voice as she gritted through the pain sitting in the passenger seat of the car. "He's coming!"

"No," her friend exclaimed. "Do not push. Just hold on a little longer. The paramedics are on their way."

But it was too late. Moments later, Ty "Shotgun" Perry, one-month old son of Airman 1st Class Christopher and Anna Perry was born in the passenger seat of a car in the family's driveway in Maniago, Italy, on Aug. 18, 2009.

"I never in a million years thought I would have delivered my son in our driveway," said Mrs. Perry. "You hear about people giving birth in cars, but you never think it could happen to you."

It all began at about 3 a.m. that morning, Mrs. Perry recalled. She had just seen the doctor the day prior (planning to deliver Ty on Aug. 18) and was 4 centimeters dilated at the time, but not quite ready to be admitted to the hospital. After a restless night of sleep, she awoke early that morning with contractions.

"I called my mom immediately to get her advice as to if I should be going to the hospital or not," Mrs. Perry said. "After timing them at about two minutes apart, I then called my husband and my friend Keilah, my backup to my husband, and told her it was time." (Airman Perry of the 31st Maintenance Squadron was at work.)

About 20 minutes later, Keilah Shoffner of the 31st Medical Operations Squadron was at Mrs. Perry's front door.

Once at the house, Mrs. Shoffner, climbed the stairs (as Mrs. Perry couldn't) to wake her 3-year-old son, Brenden, while Mrs. Perry went out to the car.

As another 30 minutes passed trying to get Brenden up, dressed and in the car as well as transferring Mrs. Perry's overnight bags from her car to Mrs. Shoffner's car and a few other little setbacks along the way, the reality began to settle on Mrs. Perry that her baby was determined to be born, and quickly.

"I was trying to hold off as long as I could, but Ty and my body had another plan," she said.

Mrs. Schoffner said that as soon as she settled into the driver's seat of the car, she took one look at Mrs. Perry and knew they couldn't leave.

"I remember saying to her 'we're not gonna make it to the hospital are we?'" she said.

"No," Mrs. Perry responded.

Mrs. Schoffner, realizing her cell phone wasn't working, immediately ran to the next door neighbor's house and explained the situation. As they called for an ambulance, she went back to check on Mrs. Perry with the neighbor, Army Staff Sgt. Ulisis Patino of the 99th Movement Control Team, shortly behind her.

"When we got back to the car, we found Anna with her pants at her ankles, a towel down and the baby crowning," said Mrs. Shoffner.
"It wasn't how I pictured giving birth, but Ty was coming right then and I had to do my best with the situation," said Mrs. Perry who had never planned for natural child birth, let alone outside of a hospital.

As Mrs. Shoffner ran back into the Perry house to find scissors and something to tie off the umbilical cord, Sergeant Patino stayed with Mrs. Perry, who delivered Ty into his arms only minutes before Mrs. Shoffner returned.

"It was pretty intense, but I knew that I had to stay calm and be there for Anna and the baby," said Sergeant Patino. "I remember it was hard to see in the darkness and as he was coming out face down like he was ready to do a push-up. I told her to give one last push as I carefully grabbed him in his awkward position. His little body was slippery as I dried him in the towels. Anna gave him a smack on the back and made sure he was breathing and held him."

"She's a very brave, strong woman," the sergeant added.

Minutes after, the paramedics arrived and took control of the situation, cutting the umbilical cord and taking Mrs. Perry, her husband (who arrived a minute later) and their children to the Pordenone Hospital.

"I just remember thinking, 'am I being punked, where's the camera,'" said Mrs. Perry. "Seriously though, I don't know what I would have done, had Keilah and Ulisis not been there. They both really stepped up. I can't thank them enough."

"It's funny looking back," said Sergeant Patino, who nicknamed Ty "Shotgun" as he was born in the passenger seat of a car. "I remember talking with Chris the day before about Anna being due the next day and telling him that if he needed anything to just let me know. I've done a lot of things and seen a lot of things in my life, but never did I think I would deliver a baby. That was a blessing."

Airman Perry, who rushed to the scene as soon as he could, said he was very thankful that everything went okay and for the help his wife received.

"I found out Ty was born when I pulled up to the house," he said. "I was about five minutes too late. I remember walking up to the edge of the car and seeing Anna holding him with the umbilical cord still attached. I was amazed at what happened and very thankful they were both okay."

"I will never be able to thank Keilah and Sergeant Patino enough for helping the way they did," he said. "They're both good friends to have. They're the kind of people who tell you if you ever need anything they'll help and they mean it."

The Airman said he was also impressed by his wife's actions that day.

"All I can say is wow," he said. "She is amazing. Other than all the pain she was in, she stayed in control the whole time. She is a very strong person. I wouldn't have expected anything less from her."

For those individuals who may find themselves in a situation like Mrs. Perry found herself in that early summer morning, Lt. Col. Virginia Garner, a certified nurse midwife with the 31st Surgical Operations Squadron, offers a few important tips to keep in mind.

"It's always surprising to hear about an out-of-hospital delivery, but they do happen," she said. "Precipitous or rapid births occur in less than one percent of the population."

"The main thing to remember if you are in this type of situation is to stay calm and dial 911 in the U.S. or 118 if in Italy," she continued. "If the baby is coming and you are driving, pull over to the side of the road. Once the baby is born, make sure he or she is breathing. This is the number one priority. If they're not breathing, infant CPR will need to be administered. Once this is taken care of, make sure to keep the baby warm until the paramedics arrive."

The colonel added that cutting the umbilical cord or tying it off is not a priority and should be left to medical professionals.

For the Perry family, life is a little less chaotic these days.

"That was definitely enough excitement for Ty I think," said Mrs. Perry. "He's actually a pretty calm and content little guy. We're just enjoying our time together."

For medical concerns or questions, call the 31st Medical Group nurse advice line at 800-877-660 toll free from any Telecom Italia phone.