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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe baby, I delivered when I was 19......
The summer I was 19 years old, I was working on a national singing tour for the Lutheran Church. Myself and 6 others went from town to town in a van. One night on our once a week day off, just the guys on the team took the van and went from Evansville, IN to Memphis TN. On our way back to Evansville coming into Owensboro KY about 2 in the morning, a car passed us at a high rate of speed. Very soon that same car was on the side of the road and was smoking, the young man driving it was waving a towel for some one to help him.
We stopped and inside the car was his 17 year old partner pregnant as can be and whose water had just broken. The young man stayed with the car and sent his partner with us to the hospital about 9 miles away. On our way, her little baby was born. Scared the crap out of me, I had no clue about child birth and neither did the other three guys that were with me. We were all aged 19-23.
Once we got her to the hospital and settled, we exchanged names and phone numbers etc. Through the years the parents of Christopher wrote to me and I got to know him. They had made us four honorary Godparents of Christopher. He has struggled in his young adulthood but today he emailed me out of the blue and told me that he has graduated college with a four year degree in computers. I was very happy. I am also grateful to have been a part of that.
I know it's not important in the scheme of poitics but it made my day and I wanted to share.
Thanks Mike C
elleng
(131,402 posts)Thanks, GodDad!
Wounded Bear
(58,792 posts)diva77
(7,684 posts)yardwork
(61,793 posts)Hope22
(1,909 posts)I love that the godfathers stayed in the picture. Congratulations to all! 😁💗
Deuxcents
(16,454 posts)And neither did Christopher. Id say you had a big part of it and yes, its good news! So nice to have a positive post with all the crazy stuff out there. 🙏
Easterncedar
(2,371 posts)That young father mustve been terrified
Srkdqltr
(6,386 posts)pnwmom
(109,025 posts)Who would play the four of you? And the laboring mom?
gopiscrap
(23,768 posts)many years ago people said I looked like Rick Moranis
Raine
(30,545 posts)nolabear
(42,005 posts)I hope he tells that story. What a very real and raw way to come into the world! Ya done good.
StarryNite
(9,476 posts)Thank you for sharing.
herding cats
(19,569 posts)That's one of those unexpected, yet beautiful, things which shape our lives. 🥰
FemDemERA
(231 posts)Thanks for sharing your story.
niyad
(113,961 posts)you chose to share it with us. Do not tell yourself that it is not important, because it is! Real people, real lives, and sometimes miracles.
Blessings to you and your friends, and best wishes for this young man. What a wonderful way to start this lunar new year of the Dragon.
gopiscrap
(23,768 posts)sometimes things happen to you that you think other people might just say so what, but that night is a part of my life narrative and I do tell about to folks. I am just grateful that he reached out to me.
AllyCat
(16,267 posts)Delivering a baby on the side of the road would be stressful for a knowledgeable practitioner. Cannot imagine how you felt!
How special he contacted you!
LoisB
(7,256 posts)Thank you all for stopping to aid a fellow human.
yonder
(9,686 posts)Good on Christopher for getting on track and to honor his "Godfathers in a Van".
Thanks for sharing Mike C!
Hekate
(91,035 posts)gopiscrap
(23,768 posts)Last edited Tue Feb 6, 2024, 01:03 AM - Edit history (1)
I was blown away today, that he would think that I influenced him for the better. I have only spoken to him 6 or 7 times in my and his life. I remember that night so well. This was my first real "serious" job and not only was I terrified that we would some how hurt the new mom or her baby, but I was terrified, I would get fired. The one time I would have loved to have seen a cop around, but none was found. It is a story I do tell often, it is one of those once in a life time events that becomes a part of your life narrative.
fierywoman
(7,707 posts)colorado_ufo
(5,743 posts)pfitz59
(10,423 posts)Reality busting in.
ScratchN
(4 posts)Such a lovely story. Thank you for sharing
malaise
(269,322 posts)Rec
llmart
(15,569 posts)There are moments in our lives that just stick with us and become a part of us. You and your friends were young but still had the presence of mind to know exactly what to do. How amazing that you kept in touch. Thank you for sharing this.
Tom_Foolery
(4,691 posts)A perfect example of the compassion that exists in humans. We need more people like you. By the way, I live in Owensboro. Thank you!!!
GeoWilliam750
(2,523 posts)COL Mustard
(5,975 posts)They would have been afraid of getting robbed or something. They've fallen a long way from the ideals of Christianity.
Old Crank
(3,679 posts)You're good people.
debm55
(25,775 posts)pandr32
(11,644 posts)Emile
(23,189 posts)LetMyPeopleVote
(145,954 posts)KYBlue
(26 posts)Really liked your story, and was surprised it happened in my hometown. I'm glad to know you helped the young mother and baby. Unfortunately this area is overrun with rabid Trump supporters and racists, who wouldn't help anyone these days. We need more kind hearted people like you in this area.
gopiscrap
(23,768 posts)and just raced to the hospital with the young lady, didn't make it in time. We just put her baby on her stomach, didn't break the umbilicle cord and had her wheeled in when we got to the hospital. I have never been back to Owensboro but would like to. This happened on July 19, 1977 my final day of being a teenager.
DFW
(54,506 posts)I'm sure 99% of extremely significant events are unknown to most of the world.
They are no less significant, believe me. Your friend Christopher will attest to that.
Pacifist Patriot
(24,654 posts)Solly Mack
(90,802 posts)Thank you for sharing your story.
CrispyQ
(36,567 posts)twodogsbarking
(9,953 posts)Attilatheblond
(2,278 posts)The connections we make, even the ones we consider minor, can sometimes have great impact on others. Those connections can fire back up at the oddest times and only towards the ends of our own lives are we likely to see the beautiful weave of the net our casual connections helped make.
appleannie1
(5,081 posts)yankee87
(2,193 posts)What you did is an amazing feat. You truly followed in the teaching of my Lord, Jesus Christ.
KT2000
(20,605 posts)Thank you for making my day!
Cherokee100
(270 posts)Thank you for giving us, some good news in this messed up world, we live in now.
gopiscrap
(23,768 posts)calimary
(81,608 posts)You were a car full of guardian angels that night, for sure.
perfessor
(268 posts)And sometimes, a carload. Thank you for being a part of the good in the world.
Karadeniz
(22,607 posts)ripple effect of any one action!!!!
blm
(113,136 posts)MorbidButterflyTat
(1,881 posts)Very touching. Thanks so much for sharing.
greatauntoftriplets
(175,775 posts)That has to have been quite an experience for you and your friends.
IbogaProject
(2,858 posts)And it seems you really helped by staying in contact. The emotional boost of any extra birthday cards or other occasional contact would have been good, doubly if his parents were of modest means.