On the morning of May 17th, Beaverton resident Lynde Ogle began experiencing contractions. As husband David navigated his way down SW Farmington Rd. on the way Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, her contractions intensified. With contractions coming 45 seconds apart, Lynde instinctively knew that they would not make it to the hospital. She asked David to call 9-1-1; the call was answered by Washington County Consolidated Communications Agency (WCCCA) 9-1-1 Dispatcher Joe Weber.
Weber, who has been with WCCCA for seven years, determined that the couple was minutes away from Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue (TVF&R) Station 61 and that the crew was in quarters, so he directed them to pull over in the fire station parking lot and dispatched the station’s crew and a MetroWest ambulance on the call.
TVF&R Lieutenant/Paramedic Ronnie Mason, Firefighter/Paramedic Jason Maurer, Firefighter Bobby Heiney, and Firefighter Joe Goddard heard the tap out for the call and were surprised when they realized the call location was their fire station. Looking out the window, they saw the Ogles pull in and sprang into action. They were joined by MetroWest Ambulance Paramedics Bruce Brown and Brent Warberg.
After paramedics assisted Lynde from the car to a gurney and several pushes later, Adelyn Ogle made her entrance into the world right there in the station parking lot. Paramedics assessed the condition of mom and baby and, after dad cut the umbilical cord, placed baby Adelyn in an infant warming bag and into the arms of her mother for the ambulance ride to the hospital.
On November 22nd, Adelyn – wearing a junior firefighter outfit - returned with her parents and big brother Carter to Station 61 to meet the firefighter paramedics, ambulance paramedics, and the 9-1-1 dispatcher who had a part in her remarkable birth story.
The family had two requests; to fill in the details they missed when they were “otherwise engaged” to share with Adelyn someday and a photo with mom, baby, and Firefighter/Paramedic Jason Maurer whose name is on Adelyn’s birth certificate as the attending physician.
TVF&R is thankful to the Ogle Family for allowing us and our partners, MetroWest Ambulance and Washington County Consolidated Communications Agency, to share this special day with them and to share an important message with you – our readers.
If you experience a medical emergency, do not hesitate to call 9-1-1. Dispatchers are trained to evaluate an individual’s medical needs and dispatch the right resources to the caller, or as in this case, the caller to the right resources! While most of us envision emergency medical care taking place in a hospital, it’s important to remember that sometimes medical emergencies involving chest pain, stroke, imminent birth, or other circumstances can’t wait that long.
Congratulations Ogle Family – David, Lynde, Carter, and Adelyn!