Paramedics honored for saving newborn baby in Detroit

Woman gives birth to baby boy at just 25 weeks pregnant

DETROIT – A group of Detroit paramedics are being honored for swooping in and helping to save the day as a baby was born prematurely.

To make matters more difficult, the newborn baby was breach and had the cord wrapped around its neck. Thanks to quick thinking by Detroit paramedics, the baby is expected to be OK.

The atmosphere is calm now in a condo complex on East Larned Street in Detroit, but about a month ago, it was chaotic.

Paramedic James Lacroix was working on medic eight on June 24 when the group got a call about a woman delivering a baby in her condo at only 25 weeks pregnant.

When Detroit paramedics got to the condo, a foot was already out.

"Since you can't see the head, you don't really know what's going on," Lacroix said.

He said the umbilical cord was wrapped around the little boy's neck.

"With each push, the cord was acting like a noose," Lacroix said. "I tried getting the cord out from around the baby's head. It was too tangled."

Probationary paramedic Steve Andary was also on the call. It was his first birth, and only his third week on the job.

"The baby wasn't moving," Andary said. "It didn't look the best."

They started doing CPR on the baby, and rushed him to the hospital. Even though he was only 25 weeks old, doctors finished what the paramedics started, and saved him.

After all their hard work that day, the paramedics were awarded for saving a life.

The Detroit Fire Department said the newborn is still in the NICU.


About the Authors:

Nick joined the Local 4 team in February of 2015. Prior to that he spent 6 years in Sacramento covering a long list of big stories including wildfires and earthquakes. Raised in Sterling Heights, he is no stranger to the deep history and pride Detroit has to offer.

Derick is the Lead Digital Editor for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports.