Caledonia Argus

Grandma delivers own Motherís Day gift

Posted: 5/13/03

by Andrew Miller
Argus News Reporter

Her Motherís Day gift arrived a week early, but Sandy Feuerhelm of Hokah couldnít have been happier. Or more exhausted. Her fifth grandchild was born the morning of May 2, and she played a leading role in the delivery.

A phone call saying her daughter Janna was in labor had Feuerhelm rushing to Methodist Hospital in Rochester at 2 a.m. But when she arrived, the doctor told them it was too earlyñ the baby wasnít due until May 12ñ and sent them home. Feuerhelm decided that, if she went home to Hokah, sheíd probably be called back within hours for the delivery, so she decided to stay at her daughterís home in Dodge City.

Jannaís contractions continued when they arrived home, and intensified as dawn drew near. Around 5a.m., Feuerhelm suggested that Janna try to relax in the bathtub. When she emerged from the tub 15 minutes later, it became clear that the baby was on its way.

Feuerhelm told son-in-law Travis to call 911 and request an ambulance, but anxiety got the better of him. Travis went into another room, dialed the phone, came back into the bathroom and said, ìTheyíre not there.î A dispatcher with the Houston County Sheriffís Office, Feuerhelm was fairly certain the 911 operators were not AWOL.

Feuerhelm joked about the mix-up afterwards. ìI said to Travis, ëWhat do I do (for a living)? Theyíre there!í He later said he might have dialed 119. We can laugh about it now, but it was pretty intense at the time.î

She dialed 911 herself, but the baby was intent on arriving before the medical help did, and Feuerhelm delivered the child without incident at 5:50 a.m. ìIt was almost out-of-body,î she said, ìlike I was looking over someoneís shoulder. We werenít the only ones in that room, God must have been there, too.î

The umbilical cord needed to be cut, and with the medical personnel still not there, Feuerhelm made due with the only supplies on hand. Dental floss was used to tie the cord, and Travis cut it. ìWe teased that we didnít have any pictures of the delivery to put in the baby book,î Feuerhelm said, ìbut we have dental floss to tape into it.î

The baby boy, Trey, weighed seven pounds, 10 ounces, and measured 19 1/4 inches. Grandma was quick to shower him with praise after the delivery. ìHeís beautiful,î she said. ìHeís got a whole head full of curly black hair and a beautiful little rosebud smile. Heís a cutie.î

ìHe wasnít supposed to be born until Motherís Day,î she added, ìbut I can still say it was a Motherís Day present. It was wonderful.î

Top of Page