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A baby who couldn't wait to be born got a little extra help from a calm dad and a KSL photographer. The family is now resting comfortably at a Utah County hospital, but getting there was a crazy ride.
The Griffins are the first to admit their timing isn't perfect. Yesterday morning they went to the hospital but were early. When they headed back in the afternoon, it was a little too late.
Wife Teri Griffin said, "I was like, ‘Honey, my water broke, we gotta get there now.'"
But just a few blocks from the hospital they ran into an unexpected detour. "He was driving down the road and was like 'Oh no I'm speeding.' And I said, ‘I don't care, I'm in labor,'" Teri said.
Husband Travis said, "The whole time I was thinking, ‘What if I get pulled over by the cops? What do I do, pull over? Race them to the hospital?"
With the baby getting closer and closer, the couple pulled over right in front of the home of KSL News photographer Steve Landeen. He said, "As soon as I saw the situation, it looked like someone was having a baby."
Landeen ran over to help as Travis gave directions to 911.
"All the sudden I could feel her coming, pushing out of me, so I reached down to feel where she was and I could feel the top of her head," Teri said.
"I got both my hands underneath, and he got one hand underneath, and she pushed and woosh. the baby came right out," Landeen said.
Despite those tense moments, doctors say Caydice Karie is a very healthy girl at 6 lbs 6 oz and 18.5 inches long. And even thought she's only a day old, she already has quite a story to tell and the photos to back it up.
Teri and Travis say they're extremely grateful to Steve and to the paramedics and police who helped them out.
Mom and baby are scheduled to go home tomorrow.
E-mail: sdallof@ksl.com
