Christopher VERY calm. Sleeps as E-04 @dcfireems FFs sirens respond to kitchen fire shortly after this pic #WTOP pic.twitter.com/2qcG9YpYff
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) May 3, 2016
Mother/child/FF birth helpers reunion interrupted as E-04 @dcfireems races off to put out a kitchen fire #WTOP pic.twitter.com/qwlG3NCfXO
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) May 3, 2016
1st time mom Lorena Saravia gave birth to Christopher at home w @dcfireems & friend Rosa Robles #WTOP pic.twitter.com/FDbsjnv8e6
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) May 3, 2016
FFmedicPrice & FFemtWittenberg thanked by Lorena Saravia for assisting emergency home birth. @dcfireems #WTOP pic.twitter.com/8W6UQGStRp
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) May 3, 2016
Christopher Saravia born at home with @dcfireems FFs after local hosp sent mom home saying she wasn't ready. #WTOP pic.twitter.com/R2m8EDrjtK
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) May 3, 2016
E-04 FFs Price&Wittenberg visit Christopher Saravia they delivered in a Columbia Heights apt 4/17 @dcfireems #WTOP pic.twitter.com/W2IL5Qbotm
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) May 3, 2016
WASHINGTON — A mother and child reunion on Tuesday brought together a first-time mom and the D.C. first responders who delivered her baby.
Lorena Saravia gave birth to Christopher April 17 in her Columbia Heights apartment with the assistance of two firefighters from Engine Company 04.
Despite his unexpected and unusual birth, Christopher is just fine.
“It’s always cool to bring a life into the world,” said D.C. firefighter/paramedic Torrence Price with a big grin.
“But, like I said, it’s another day on the job,” he added. “I do a lot of extraordinary things on the job.”
Firefighter/EMT Josh Wittenberg has been with the fire department for about a year.
“I’m pretty new. I’m still on probation,” Wittenberg said. “But, mom was a champion. She did really, really good. She made it easy.”
Asked whether a language barrier presented any issues, Wittenberg said everyone managed to communicate well enough as he tried to remember the Spanish he learned in high school.
D.C. fire/EMS department spokesman Oscar Méndez translated for Saravia and friend Rosa Robles at the reunion. Robles told WTOP that Saravia was sent home by a hospital shortly before Christopher was born.
“She was concerned and a little bit annoyed when earlier she was at the hospital with [Saravia] and she was sent back home even though she had dilated 6 centimeters already,” Méndez translated.
Saravia said she and Robles were feeling very nervous when it was obvious the baby was coming and 911 was called. When firefighters arrived the baby was crowning.
“But, once they saw [firefighters] arrive, they felt at ease,” Méndez translated.
