An Innisfil couple got an early Christmas present after their son was born in their van on the way to the hospital on Christmas Eve morning.
On Friday, there was an emotional reunion as Simcoe County paramedics and the Rorke family met for the first time since paramedics delivered Ayden on the side of Dunlop Street in Barrie.
“It all happened so fast,” says father Ryan Rorke. “Didn’t expect to be having a baby on Christmas Eve, surely didn’t expect to have a baby in the van on the side of the road. That’s the kind of stuff that happens in movies.”
Paramedics say they only do a handful of roadside delivers each year but this was even rarer because Ayden was born feet first and with complications.
“He was born without breathing or without a heartbeat but we were able to revive him,” says Simcoe County paramedic platoon supervisor Craig Hassberger.
Sarah Rorke was scheduled for a C-section at the end of December but when her water broke they left their Alcona home at 6:00 a.m. and headed north to RVH. Her contraction started in the driveway but increased rapidly.
“We knew he was breached and I didn’t know how things were going to go. It was scary to know he was coming and we were on the 400,” says Sarah.
The Rorke’s pulled off Highway 400 at Dunlop Street and stopped the vehicle where paramedics helped deliver and revive Ayden.
“I’ve never delivered a baby before so it was very nerve-racking. Time plays with your mind for sure, I felt like we were on scene for like three hours and apparently it was only ten minutes,” says paramedic Tammy Houle.
“It was the most emotion call I’ve ever had in eight years as a paramedic and also now that we’ve heard he’s okay it’s the best call I’ve ever had because it felt like we saved a life,” says fellow paramedic Nicole Sharp.
Their supervisor was on hand to help and says even he is amazed how his staff reacted.
“it was flawless, the crews worked beyond their means of what they could do to revive the baby, help mom – because we did have two patients on the scene and it worked out beautifully,” added Hassberger.
And the Rorke’s can’t thank them enough for saving their son’s life.
“I can’t express enough gratitude to paramedics that were on scene there, without them coming to help I think the story would be much different,” says Ryan.
