Mom Gives New Meaning to ‘Speedy Delivery’ at NH Motor Speedway

Shawna Arnold and her boyfriend were on their way to Concord Hospital to deliver their baby girl. But, as we know, sometimes babies just won’t wait. Little Katie was one of those babies.

“He’s like, ‘I can’t drive any faster. I can’t drive any faster,’ and I’m like, ‘I’m not going to make it. I’m not going to make it,’” Shawna said. “I had a contraction, and I stood up in the back seat on my knees facing the back and said, ‘I’m not going to make it. My water just broke.’”

Shawna’s water broke just as they were approaching the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, so her boyfriend pulled into the speedway front parking lot.

“You can’t panic, so you’re thinking, ‘What do I have to do at that moment to save this baby’s life,’” Shawna said.

Shawna’s boyfriend made the right decision and ran to the speedway’s main office to ask for help. As fate would have it, there were EMTs on site for an event taking place that day. New Hampshire Motor Speedway Director of Operations, Tom Blanchette, who had a background in EMT services was also there that day. He rushed to the front parking lot and helped the couple self-deliver in the back of their Saturn sedan.

“There was an EMT there that happened to be wonderful, and he was a great EMT and he knew what he was doing,” Shawna said. “He made me feel comfortable. He made me feel safe.”

“We had a motorcycle event on track, and typically, we would have a couple of ambulances on property to provide safety for the riders and competitors that come here to enjoy the magic mile,” Blanchette said. “It was timed perfectly for them. They knew where to stop.”

After Katie’s delivery, EMTs transported both mom and baby to the Concord Hospital. Speedway officials said the last time they checked, mom and Katie, who was just over five pounds, were doing well.

Since Katie was the first baby to ever be born at the Speedway, Jerry Gappens, Speedway General Manager, gave Katie a very fitting gift – one that took her love for speed into account: NASCAR tickets for life.

Related Articles:

• Dad Catches Newborn after Mom Gives Birth in Family Car
• Mom Welcomes Two Sets Of Twins; Same day – Four Years Apart!
• Baby on Board! Infant in Critical Condition After Inflight Delivery, But Still Fighting

SOURCE

---