Emergency Call Brings

New Life To A Routine Patrol

By Steve Bigham

One-week-old Victoria Catherine Keayes is doing just fine these days thanks, say her parents, to the saving grace of God and the steady hand of a police officer named William Hull.

The Newtown baby arrived on the night of Thursday, May 17, just an hour or two sooner than John and Margaret Keayes had expected. And with the baby on its way, it was Officer Hull who responded to the scene. Arriving at the Keayes residence at 29 Maltbie Road just two minutes after receiving the call, Officer Hull entered the house to find the expectant mother on the bathroom floor, the baby’s head already showing. Without hesitation, the 31-year-old officer dropped to his knees and helped welcome little Victoria into the world.

Moments later, Officer Hull radioed the news to headquarters.

“We have a baby girl,” he exclaimed.

But that was only half the story. Later that night, doctors discovered Victoria had inhaled fluids during the birth and was, according to her parents, touch and go for awhile. The proud new parents had to be told by doctors and nurses that they were only “hopeful” that their baby would pull through.

“We called our pastors [at Grace Christian Fellowship in Newtown] and began to pray. Everyone was praying for her and, just like that, everything seemed to turn. God totally healed her within a short period of time,” Mr Keayes said. “Now she’s perfectly healthy

On Wednesday of this week, a healthy Baby Victoria was back in the arms of the man who helped deliver her in what was a very special reunion.

“He’s definitely a hero. He was great. He came in, put his gloves on, and he went to work as if he’s actually done it before,” Mr Keayes said.

Officer Hull, 31, assured The Bee this week that he had never been in a situation quite like the one he found himself in last Thursday. But he relied on his training and his experience growing up in a big family to help put both himself and the parents at ease.

“We were just so blessed that the cord wasn’t wrapped around the baby’s neck. We were blessed that the baby’s head was in the right position. It wasn’t posterior. God’s hand was on us because so many complications could have happened and everything went so smoothly,” said Margaret.

Earlier in the day last Thursday, all was normal. May 17 was the due date and Margaret Keayes, a Newtown native and daughter of Fred and Nancy Pendergast, had every intention of delivering her new baby that day. But a visit to the doctor that morning had revealed no dilation and the expectant mother simply went about her normal business of the day.

“I figured this was going to be a long process,” she said. “I had a nail appointment at 8 pm, so I figured I could either have my nails done and have contractions or be at home and be miserable. I was having contractions while I was getting my nails done, but I didn’t think too much of it.”

The Newtown woman arrived home at 9:30 pm and informed her husband that she was having contractions and that it might be a good time to make the trip to the hospital.

“He went up to change and I had a really big contraction and the water broke,” Mrs Keayes recalled. “As I headed toward the bathroom, I still didn’t know the baby was coming out. It was weird. Then I thought, ‘no, this isn’t happening.’”

But it was happening.

After a call was placed to 911, Officer Hull was on the scene within minutes.

“I had just turned on to Huntingtown Road from Platts Hill when the call came in. I believe that was 10:35 pm when I was dispatched. I got to the house around 10:37 pm. The husband met me at the door and he said, ‘my wife’s having a baby.’

“I go in there and she was in the bathroom and I saw the top of the head,” Officer Hull continued. “I called for the ambulance to step it up a little, then I put my gloves on, got down, told her who I was, tried to calm the situation down. Pretty soon I had the head in my hands.”

Officer Hull said he reverted back to his training, which taught him to lift the baby slowly to allow easy exit.

“One arm came out, I lowered it a little, the other arm came out, then it just slid right out. It was amazing,” Officer Hull said. “I never thought in my career that I would actually do that.”

Moments later, four members of the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps – Deb Aubin, Ken Apley, Karin Halstead and Gordon Johnson – arrived on the scene to transport both mother and baby to the hospital.

Officer Hull, who is scheduled to be married in July, said he simply reacted to what the situation called for, but John and Margaret Keayes say this local cop is something special. In August, the Keayes will host a baby dedication and they plan to invite all those who helped safely bring Victoria into the world… especially Officer Hull.

Victoria, who weighed 7 pounds, 9 ounces and measured 191/2  inches at birth, is the couple’s second child. They also have a son, Zachary 21/2 , who slept through the entire ordeal.