A baby girl who was born in cardiac arrest at a San Tan Valley home in July is expected to make a full recovery, and on Sept. 2 the Town Council honored the firefighters and paramedics who brought her back.

Her father brought her to the meeting.

"She's truly a miracle," he told the room.

What happened on July 30

The call came in at 8:40 a.m. A newborn was experiencing shoulder dystocia during an active home birth, meaning the baby's shoulder had become lodged after the head delivered.

Ladder 845 and ambulance AP598 arrived to find the infant had just cleared the birth canal and was in cardiac arrest, with no pulse and no breathing. According to Rural Metro's account, the crews walked into a chaotic scene with numerous distraught family members present.

They began neonatal CPR, clamped and cut the umbilical cord, and prepared the baby for transport to Banner Ironwood Medical Center. Recognizing how complex the call was, Ladder 845 had already requested Engine 843 for backup and asked that the battalion chief be notified.

That second crew took on something just as important. While the neonatal resuscitation continued, Engine 843 and ambulance AP596 went into the house and took over care of the mother, so she was assessed, treated and transported without the effort on the baby ever pausing.

The battalion chief rode with AP598 to the hospital to help. On the way, crews established an advanced airway, got vascular access, and gave medications following neonatal resuscitation guidelines.

The baby's heartbeat came back before the ambulance reached the hospital.

Her father's account

The council invited the family forward, and her father spoke with his daughter in the room.

He described a delivery that went wrong and a resuscitation that stretched on. Of that day: "One of our worst days ever in one of our best."

He had believed she was gone. At the hospital, he said, "I told several people that she was no longer with us," and he had turned his attention to his wife when a staff member told him otherwise.

"They're like, your baby's breathing in the other room."

"And thank you to all of you," he told the responders. "For not giving up. For doing what you did. Helping her be here today. We're eternally grateful."

Who was recognized

The mayor read a prepared statement and presented certificates, with the vice mayor pinning each recipient.

"During this incident, the responders demonstrated exceptional composure, teamwork, professionalism and clinical skill under extremely challenging circumstances," the statement said. "Their quick response and coordinated efforts were critical during a life-threatening emergency involving a newborn."

Rural Metro Fire Department named the crew members recognized: Captain Whelan, Engineer Pisani and Firefighter Zuege of Ladder 845; Captain Preston, Engineer Larrick and Firefighter Mullenaux of Engine 843; and Battalion Chief DeMoss. Rural Metro's account also credits Lee and Lawrence on AP598 and Fergeson and Snyder on AP596. AMR separately recognized two of its own personnel during the same presentation.

In Rural Metro's words, the crews' performance "reflects great credit upon themselves, the San Tan Valley community, and Rural Metro Fire Department."

The mayor closed by thanking the family for telling their story.

"There's one sound that you're never going to get tired of hearing," he said. "Is that little cry. Even if it's at 3 a.m."

The mother remained stable throughout her care.