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CURTIS OSTRANDER	DUAINE HARDING
ELEANOR TODD	ELMER "BUD" HAHN
GERVASE KILEY	MARIAN SUTTON
ORLO KIRKUM	SLAVA KOKOTOVICH
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SPECIAL VISIT. Washington Township Fire Department EMS were happy to see Eva Rayner, who was born in the back of their ambulance. From left, Tony Augguliaro, Kevin Kennedy (holding Eva), friend of the Rayners Rebekah Pinchback, Meeghan Rayner, Chris Rayner (holding Eva's big sister Melia), Pete Doyle and Barn Chandler. "They did an incredible job, they stayed calm the whole time," Meeghan said.

(Photo courtesy of Rebekah Pinchback)

Washington Township EMS
help with special delivery

by CHRIS GRAY
Observer Staff Writer

      Eva Kay Rayner, born on Sept. 17, was given the unofficial middle name "Speedy."
       Her mother, Washington resident Meeghan Rayner, had her first contractions at 5:45 p.m., and at 6:18 p.m. Eva was born - in an ambulance on 26 Mile Road.
       Rayner and her husband, Chris, were told unlike their first child who took four hours to be birthed, their second would be quicker.
       "We were kind of anticipating it'd be quick, but not that quick," Meeghan said. "It was quite an adventure."
       Rayner called her long-time friend Rebekah Pinchback and asked if she could drive her to the hospital, as Chris was en route from work in Detroit. Around 6 p.m., the pair was pulling out of the Rayner driveway. Along the way on M-53, Rayner began to feel hard labor, and told Pinchback to call 911 after telling Chris to meet them at the hospital.
       "I was a little panicky and we were debating on calling," Rayner said. "I thought I was just being dramatic."
       Washington Township Fire Department's EMS responded to the call, speeding to where they pulled over and arriving at 6:10 p.m. Meeghan had already felt the head coming out at this point.
       "I was freaking out, I thought I was going to have to deliver the baby," Pinchback said. "It was happening so fast."
       Pinchback joined the crew of Tony Augguliaro, Kevin Kennedy, Pete Doyle and Barn Chandler in the back of the ambulance, and five minutes later, Eva was brought into the world.
       "They did an incredible job," Pinchback said. "They never lost their cool . . . it was such an honor to be a part of it."
       From there it was off to the hospital, where Chris met with them, surprised to find his new daughter was already in his wife's arms.
       "He didn't know she was born until I got out of the ambulance," Meeghan said. "But he got there before we did, and I was thankful he was there when we got there."
       Since she came out so fast, Eva was bruised for a few days, but both the mother and baby are healthy, said Kennedy, who has worked for the department full-time since 1995. He coached Meeghan while the others worked the delivery.
       "We're trained for this kind of thing, and usually you get someone in labor or contractions, but very seldom do you get someone who actually delivers," he said.
       This was Kennedy's second experience with delivering a child on duty. In a profession that deals with a lot of injury and sickness, he said it was nice to have a more celebrated event.
       "It was a refreshing incident, a breath of fresh air for our shift," he said.
       A week after the birth the Rayners and Pinchback visited the fire station, where the men who helped deliver Eva got a chance to see her and give a Beanie Baby dog in a diaper signed by each member.
       "She was adorable," Kennedy said. "And it makes us feel good when people come back and let you know they're doing fine."
       The Rayners plan on visiting the station once Eva's birthday comes around.
       "The paramedics should definitely be recognized for their hard work," Meeghan said.
       A pink stork is now on the back of the ambulance, and will remain there for the life of the ambulance.