Client:Announcements​

While the birth of every baby is special, Dan Bigelow of Merritt, BC, will have a unique story to tell his daughter, Mikayla, when she gets a little older thanks to the professional actions of Dispatcher Corey deDelley of BC Ambulance Service.

Dan thought he had plenty of time to drive from Merritt to Kamloops with his wife, Kay-dee, for the birth of their child when he left home in the early hours of Monday, May 7. About 40 kilometres out of Merritt, Kay-dee’s water broke, and the arrival of the baby seemed imminent. Dan’s call to 911 went to Corey from EMS Dispatch.

“Corey immediately calmed the situation down and talked me through the entire delivery of my baby girl,” said Dan. “He was very calm and precise with his directions. I couldn’t have asked for anyone better as he talked me through step by step of the birth and stayed with me until the ambulance arrived.”

“Our dispatcher staff are dedicated to quality care and well equipped to deal with situations that are a bit out of the ordinary,” said Doug Garland, dispatch manager of the Kamloops Service Delivery Operations Centre.

Corey began to speak to Dan at 2:43 am and baby Mikayla was delivered less than 10 minutes later.

“This was certainly a special situation,” said Corey. “It’s not every day that we use our medical knowledge to deliver a baby.”

“Corey was just the one I needed to take control of the situation,” said Dan, “and the paramedics on the ambulance were awesome, too. I can’t thank them enough.”

Mom, dad and baby are all doing well.

​For More Information
News Release: Baby Makes Early Appearance Thanks to Dad and BC Ambulance Service