'Special Delivery' Thanksgiving Baby Celebrates 1st Birthday

The Huntington Community First Aid Squad received a special visit on the Friday after Thanksgiving when Kaitlynn Russell stopped by with her family as they celebrated her first birthday.

This was a meaningful to Kaitlynn, her parents, Monika and Jamie Russell, and the HCFAS volunteers, as last year, on Thanksgiving 2013, the EMT crew delivered Kaitlynn into the world.

That holiday found Monika Russell four weeks out from her due date, with an expectation of delivering with a midwife at Stony Brook University Hospital. Mother Nature had other plans as Monika went into labor at home on Thanksgiving evening. While preparing to make the trip to Stony Brook, Monika found that her labor rapidly intensified. After 911 was called, the Huntington Community First Aid Squad arrived to help, according to the volunteer organization.

With the assistance of HCFAS, little Kaitlynn was born at home in Huntington. Mother and baby were then safely transported by HCFAS to Huntington Hospital, according to the squad.

The Russell family, including 3-year-old big brother Tyler, visited HCFAS to thank the crew including Tuesday Captain, Juan Flores, who cut the cord, and Samantha Ryan, who caught the baby, as well as volunteers Keith Tetrault, Keith Rubenstein, Richie Cortes and the Thursday Captain, Kathy Castillo who was on-duty Thanksgiving 2013, according to the squad.

“I am very proud of my crew!” said Kathy Castillo. “We were thrilled to be a part of welcoming this new member to the Russell family. And we are very touched that the family returned to thank us and show us their healthy, adorable little girl!”

Huntington Community First Aid Squad delivers approximately three to five babies each year, according to the organization. The volunteers report that it is always one of their most rewarding and memorable experiences.

Photo: L. to R.: Monika Russell (mom); HCFAS 3rd Deputy Chief Keith Rubenstein holding baby Kaitlynn; HCFAS Captain Juan Flores; Tyler Russell, (big brother), Jamie Russell (dad), and HCFAS Captain Kathy Castillo, reunite one year after the HCFAS Thanksgiving 2013 delivery of Baby Kaitlynn.

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