A medic-in-training is being hailed for helping to save the life of a mother and newborn.
Steven Andary, a probationary technician with the Detroit Fire Department was with paramedic James LaCroix and EMT James Basirico on June 24th when they were called to the 1900 block of E. Larned.
Inside the home the found a 28-year-old mother in active labor, delivering her baby 15 weeks early.
Today the three men were honored by DFD for their quick actions that saved both the mother’s life and the premature infant’s life.
"This kind of birth was relatively rare,” said LaCroix after the ceremony.
On top of the baby being premature, Lacroix explained mother and baby were facing two other high risk complications.
The baby was born breech, with feet coming out first, and the umbilical cord was wrapped around its neck.
"It was very difficult to make sure that the cord didn't choke the baby and to make sure the baby's airway was free,“ said LaCroix.
He said he worked with the mother to get the baby out slowly, then Andary clamped the cord.
"The baby wasn't breathing, moving.. really no signs of life,” said Andary.
After the delivery they were quick to conduct CPR on the newborn, getting the baby to breathe, saving it's life.
LaCroix has twenty years on the job and says he's delivered countless babies, but for Andary, this was his first.
"I'm on cloud nine right now. It's great that we could help that woman out and her family and it all worked out for the best."
After getting mother and baby to the hospital safely the men never stopped working, asking the nurses for feedback on what they could do better next time.
Family declined to speak with Seven Action News today, saying the baby is still at the hospital and is expected to face several more months of recovery before being released.
