‘I am forever grateful’: Flagler County firefighters deliver baby girl New Year’s Day

FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. — Flagler County firefighters got an unexpected start to 2022 when they helped deliver a baby on New Year’s Day.

Officials said Flagler County Fire Rescue Lt. Jon Moscowitz and Firefighter/Paramedic Jimmy Melady helped deliver Traci Kuehn’s baby girl in the back of an ambulance as they transported her to AdventHealth Daytona Beach.

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Baby Sunnie arrived at 6:02 p.m., on Jan. 1, 10 weeks early, weighing 3 pounds, 5 ounces. Officials said baby and mom are recovering and doing well, and baby Sunnie remains in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at AdventHealth Daytona Beach, where she’s receiving the highest level of pediatric care, due to her early arrival.

READ: California twins born 15 minutes apart: One in 2021, the other in 2022

Kuehn expressed her gratitude to Moscowitz and Melady for assisting in safely bringing baby Sunnie into the world.

“These guys are my heroes, I am so thankful and grateful for their swift action,” Kuehn said.

READ: Oviedo couple welcomes first baby of the new year

It wasn’t the first time either Moscowitz or Melady delivered a baby on the job, but perhaps the most memorable.

“This is something that we will always remember because one it doesn’t happen too frequently in the back of an ambulance and I’m assuming that New Year’s babies don’t get born in the back of the ambulance, even less frequently,” Melady said.

Fire Chief Michael Tucker said he was overwhelmed with joy when he heard the news.

“What a great way to ring in the New Year, thanks to Flagler County’s finest firefighter/paramedics,” Tucker said.

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