Labor of love

Santana Jimenez and her mother and husband were on their way to the El Centro Regional Medical Center to give birth to their newborn baby. But on the way their she went into labor but with the help of a dispatcher from the El Centro Police Department, Santana gave birth to what she calls her miracle baby.

Santana who lives in Holtville says her husband was on the phone with the dispatcher who helped keep her calm as the baby was being born. She said, “he was the one that was on the phone with the dispatcher, and he was trying to get instructions from her. And she was telling him to see if the baby was
crowned. By the time he even tried to do anything, he just popped out. “

Alexandria Justman, the dispatcher from the El Centro Police Department, says it’s a moment she’ll never forget. “One of the most amazing things that has ever happened not only in my job but my life. Having the opportunity to help somebody do something so amazing with a great outcome is something I’m so grateful for. And it makes my job worth it.

Santana’s biggest fear was that her baby would be unhealthy. But once she heard the baby cry, she knew everything was going to be ok. “Just in shock, that the fact that I was gonna have to give birth to him in
the car on the side of a highway so. And she was the one that was helping my husband keep me calm, and making sure I was ok and the baby was fine so. I would just tell her thank you and I really appreciated it.”

Santana and her miracle baby Malachi, will meet Alexandria the dispatcher who helped her through labor, for the first time tomorrow .