Four months after being born in a hospital elevator, Nikko Takahashi was sure looking cute nestled between the arms of two Toronto paramedics who helped deliver him.
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Dad Rainer Takahashi says the adorable tot came into the world on Aug. 13 just a little bit early, which meant it was a good thing that the first responders were on hand.
“My wife (Danielle) went into labour and it happened very quickly that we didn’t have time to go the hospital so therefore we called 911,” Rainer said on Thursday. “The (paramedics) came. Fortunately, they were able to get us to the hospital just in time. Our son was born in a hospital elevator. We actually didn’t make it to the birthing unit. So we’re very thankful for everything they did for us. Just a very exciting entry into the world.”
On Thursday afternoon, family and the first responders were reunited during a special event at the Toronto Emergency Services Joint Headquarters.
In yet another cute moment, older sister Isabelle Takahashi, 4, politely presented Toronto paramedics Jacob Pettigrew and Scott Bryant with thank-you cards.
“It’s a really unique opportunity — I think one of the parts of the job that can be sort of limiting is not knowing what happens to people on the other side,” said Pettigrew, a 10-year paramedic vet.
“You meet people who are in a compromising position and you’re rooting for them but you don’t know how things work out in the longer term. And so to be able to see Nikko here today and healthy, it’s great. Again, you just always leave with questions. You hope for the best but you don’t know. Things can just go a million different ways. So it’s just nice to see.”
Added Bryant, a 16-year-old paramedic vet: “This is great. It certainly kinds of reinvigorates my career as to help remind me why I’m doing this. We very rarely find out what happens to the patients we care for. Usually what will happen is we drop them off at the hospital and unfortunately that’s the end. Usually we don’t find out what happens. So having an event like this is quite exciting.”
Rainer was appreciative of what the paramedics did for his family the day of his son’s birth.
“I can’t thank them enough,” he said. “They kept us calm. They were so professional. I mean, I was losing my mind, and they just kept it all together and got everyone there safely and on time. So I’m very grateful for that. Unfortunately, I wasn’t even there for the birth — that’s how quickly it happened. I was parking the car.”