ROMULUS, Mich. – A Wayne County woman who gave birth to her first child in a car had it happen again. But this time, it was during an Uber ride.
Uber driver Maggie Whatley knew something was amiss when she saw Braya Ray walking to the car on Aug. 22 in Wayne County.
“I was just like, ‘Oh my gosh, she’s about to pop,’” said Whatley.
Once Whatley learned of Ray’s destination, she realized she was right.
“She got in the car. She said, ‘It says, the hospital, right?’” So, I went and started the ride,” Whatley said.
But just a few minutes into the ride from Romulus to Corewell Health Trenton Hospital, Ray’s water broke.
Ray said she requested an Uber instead of calling 911 because she thought she had plenty of time to get to the hospital.
“I remember asking her, I’m like, how long is the ride? And she said, 15 minutes. I remember, like, three minutes, I just couldn’t make it no more,” Ray said.
Whatley called 911 and pulled into the parking lot of Spee-Dee Lube on King Road in Brownstown Township.
Baby Grace was born in the backseat.
Ray’s 4-year-old son, Legend, was along for the ride and delivery.
“He was like, oh my goodness. He was so traumatized. He was even getting out the car,” Ray said. “(Whatley) was such a blessing, because she was trying to calm Legend down, myself.”
For Legend, this was a familiar experience. He was also delivered in a car.
“We get to the main entrance of like, the emergency room, and I just had him right in the front seat of the car. Three pushes (with Legend). Three pushes with her,” Ray said. “Really wanted (Grace) to have the hospital experience. But I just have my car babies.”
Grace’s arrival brought an unexpected gift for both Ray and Maggie — a new friendship.
“I don’t have my mom. She is deceased, so just having her just step in it’s a blessing,” Ray said.
Whatley also described their encounter as a blessing.
“Just to have someone in your corner can definitely lighten the load. No matter what it is that you are going through, I’m a helper. That’s me by nature,” Whatley shared.
After learning Ray doesn’t have a car, Whatley said she is now trying to find a way to get her one.
Right after their interview with Local 4, Whatley made sure baby Grace got to her doctor’s appointment.
Grace is doing well, Ray said.