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> (http://www.nola.com/newslogs/tporleans/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_tporleans/arc > hives/2005_09.html#075586): > > 'From a crowded, dark attic surrounded by floodwater in a city pushed to > the > brink by Hurricane Katrina, 5 pounds, 4 ounces of hope has arrived. > > James Kenneth Brundy Jr. was born just after midnight Tuesday to > Waldrica Nathan, 19, as she was stranded with family members in her > fiance's > 9th > Ward attic. > > More than 36 hours after they were rescued by boat, Nathan and the baby > were in excellent shape Wednesday at West Jefferson Medical Center in > Marrero, doctors said. The child had been delivered by his father, James > Brundy > Sr. and his two grandparents, who had picked up a few obstetric skills from > watching the Birth Channel. > > "The doctors said they were amazed that the family did all the right > things," hospital spokeswoman Jennifer Steel said. > As she lay in a maternity gown in the hospital's delivery unit, Nathan > said her family's saga began Monday about 6:30 a.m. Nine months' pregnant, > she and the others were forced to climb into the attic as waters rose > rapidly on Metropolitan Street. By about 8 a.m. at the height of the storm, > she > started having contractions. While she gritted her teeth through the pain, > family members dialed 911 but were told no one could help. > > "Boats and helicopters were passing by all day but none stopped," Nathan > said. At exactly midnight, her water broke, and James Brundy Jr. was > born 22 minutes later.' > > The grandfather "knew just where to cut the cord and how to tie a > shoestring around it," she said. > > "We cleaned him off with some alcohol pads, wrapped him in a clean > sheet, and I breast-fed. That's all he wanted to do, was eat," she said.' |
