The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

One of Sisters' newest residents, Henley Lorenzen Frutos, entered the world on Friday in the front seat of a Chevy Tahoe. Her parents, Brooke and Damon Frutos, received her with joy and surprise, while parked next to a Subway Restaurant in Bend.

"She got here when she wanted to get here," said Brooke.

On Friday morning, just a few days past the baby's due date, Brooke was sent home from her weekly obstetrician's exam with the directive to "wait and see." Waiting is something Brooke had come to expect; her other three children's births had required patience, coaxing and long, drawn-out hours of labor.

The couple spent the day waffling about whether Damon should leave as planned for Antelope, Oregon, to help teach a continuing education class on basic Emergency Medical Training. Damon is a fire medic for the Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District as well as a volunteer lieutenant with Coverdale Fire District.

By 4 p.m., Brooke said, "I don't know if that's such a good idea." She was having contractions. Around 5:30 p.m., they began timing them. By 6 p.m., she said, "We gotta go."

Along the 40-minute drive from their home east of Sisters to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend, Brooke's water broke. Damon proposed they pull into the Bend fire station, but Brooke was fixated on getting to the hospital. After all, it was now less than 10 minutes away.

Moments later, Damon was dialing 9-1-1 and pulling into the closest parking lot.

"I thought it was silly," said Brooke, "but he saw the signs and knew we were pushing it."

When they parked next to Subway at the north end of Hwy. 97, Brooke was still in the front seat. The 9-1-1 operator had recommended that Damon prepare the back seat for delivery, assuring him that the fire department was on its way. But none of that ever came into play. By the time Damon shot around to Brooke's side of the car, the baby's head and shoulders were already visible. Damon finished delivering the baby himself, and tied off the umbilical cord with paramedic gloves.

Within minutes, the fire department arrived to assist, and drove them safely to the hospital.

Henley, an 8-pound, 1-ounce girl, arrived healthy and safe. She joins her three siblings, Brennan, 6; Mackenzie, 4; and Ainsley, 2.

Looking back, Brooke says, "I can't believe that was us. It wasn't how we imagined. You'd think it's your worst nightmare, but it was awesome - and fast. And we have a healthy baby girl and she's wonderful. We feel like God's truly blessed us with four healthy kids, each with their own amazing, individual birth stories."

Despite many years as a firefighter and EMT, Damon had not previously delivered a baby on his own. He likes to call this experience his first field delivery.

"I'm blessed to have a husband who is a paramedic," said Brooke. "He wasn't freaking out. He was scary-calm through the whole thing."

In this, Brooke doesn't need to rely on her memory; she has the 9-1-1 recording to prove it.

Ever prepared, Damon had long before placed an obstetric kit in their van in case of just such an emergency. But for their flight to the hospital on Friday, they chose the other vehicle.

The couple has no immediate plans to part with their Chevy Tahoe-turned-delivery-wagon. In fact, Brooke says, "I think when Henley grows up, we'll say, 'This is the car you were born in. It's yours now.'"