Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Patrick West, yesterday received a courtesy call from the mother of the baby girl who was delivered aboard a GDF aircraft on May 27, 2017.
According to a post made on the GDF’s Facebook page, the newborn, in the company of her parents Susan and Diego Wilson were well received by a number of female Officers and Ranks at the time of their visit.
Brigadier West, having met the family said he was happy that he could have contributed to the safe and timely delivery of the baby, and ensuring that she was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital for primary health care. He has also pledged to maintain constant and continuous contact with the parents throughout the child’s life.
Meanwhile, Texila American University Medical student, daughter of Brigadier West, Jemina West who played a major role in the successful delivery of the child, said she is still coming to terms with everything that occurred.
“I really did not expect this to happen, but I was excited for the baby to come. I was pretty calm throughout it even though I was worried for some time. This experience has more than convinced me that I have chosen the right field,” she added.
In spite of it all, the baby’s father shared that he is relieved that the baby is safe and all is well, while his wife expressed thanks to the GDF and to young West for all the assistance she received during the delivery of her baby.
“I was afraid bad when they said the baby wasn’t coming and that the foot was showing. I am glad that everything is alright now,” Diego said, while his wife added, “Thanks to all of you for being kind. You help us out a lot.”
“The baby has not yet been named, but she was fondly called ‘Skylar’ by ranks during her visit,” the GDF said in its post.
Stabroek News had previously reported that the aircraft was transformed into a delivery room at exactly 5:48 pm last Saturday, as the baby girl anxiously made her entrance into the world in mid-air, during an emergency flight out of Fairview, an Amerindian Village in the North Rupununi.
Fortunately, the medical student, who was later identified as Jemina West was on board, and spearheaded the delivery, the GDF said in a statement posted on their Facebook page. The mother had developed complications as the child was in a breech position and a request was made for her to be air dashed to the city. GDF pilots Majors Mohinder Ramjag and Patrick Nicols, the statement said, were elated by the experience, and were also happy that both mother and child are safe.
