By EMS1 Staff
DESOTO, Texas — Two emergency crews were honored for their efforts in saving the life of a baby who was born with her umbilical cord wrapped around her neck.
NBC DFW reported that the DeSoto Fire Rescue crew responded to the home of Makayla Daniels, who was giving birth.
“I kept trying to push, but she wasn’t coming out,” Daniels said.
The first responders cut the umbilical cord when they arrived and finished the delivery, but the baby was not breathing. Daniels said the responders performed CPR on the baby for 20 minutes before they got a faint heartbeat.
The baby was transported to the neonatal intensive care unit, where she stayed for two weeks before being released.
“She weighs 9 pounds and four ounces now,” Daniels said.
The family thanked the crews for their efforts and presented each member with a “Life Saving Award.”
“This was a once in a career kind of call,” firefighter-paramedic Douglass Compton said. “To have the opportunity to be a part of saving a baby’s life is why everyone gets into this job in the first place.”
Compton and the other responders also presented the family with Christmas gifts for the baby.
“Hectic situations bring people together,” Compton said. “We definitely feel a strong connection with that baby.”