Sunday in Toronto, the temperature went as low as -16 degrees in the morning hours. It was precisely at those freezing hours when a 20-year-old mom gave birth to her daughter on her way to the hospital.
Toronto police Const. Wendy Drummond says,
“She and her mother were walking to the hospital and it was en route that she in fact gave birth.”
The newborn, her mom, and her grandmother were rushed to the Humber River Hospital’s Finch Street campus by ambulance.
Staff Sgt. Norm Proctor said the child did not show any vital signs when she was brought to the trauma unit. The doctors tried to revive her, but when she showed no signs, they pronounced her dead.
She was placed under a sheet, and two officers were asked to guard the infant till the coroner arrived.
“As per police protocol, officers remained with the child awaiting the arrival of the coroner, so that the death could be further investigated and the circumstances,” Proctor said to CBC News.
Two hours later, the officers were in for a surprise when the sheet moved and it seemed like the baby had stirred.
“In this particular situation, it was a matter of being in the right place at the right time,” Drummond said. “The officers were on a very sad detail…it was when they noticed the sheet moving that they were able to investigate a little bit further and detect a pulse.”
The baby was immediately looked after and is now said to be in stable condition. Her mom, without a doubt, is happier than ever. She is still in the hospital and well.
“We work in an area where there’s a lot of hard luck and negative stories that take place so this was a good story and at 31 Division, we’re all very happy about it,” Procter said.
It is these happy endings that take away our winter gloom as well.
