{"id":215948,"date":"2019-12-30T10:52:38","date_gmt":"2019-12-30T16:52:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=215948"},"modified":"2019-12-28T18:11:53","modified_gmt":"2019-12-29T00:11:53","slug":"firefighters-reunite-preemie-life-saved","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/firefighters-reunite-preemie-life-saved\/","title":{"rendered":"‘She’s my Christmas gift’: Hero firefighters reunite with preemie whose life they saved"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Cierra Duckett of Washington, D.C., was less than 30 weeks pregnant when she found herself going into premature labor. She had just been to see the doctor when she suddenly felt a rush of severe pain. Ultimately, she gave birth on the side of the road, with firefighters saving her daughter’s life. Now, she’s had the chance to say thank you.<\/p>\n

Duckett and her husband pulled over on Minnesota Avenue SE, with the baby coming fast, WTOP reported<\/a>. Luckily, an ambulance happened to pass right then, which her husband flagged down. \u201cWe were on our way to another call,\u201d firefighter Terrika Hooks recalled. But with Duckett’s emergency situation, they knew they had to stop, with Duckett screaming that the baby was coming. \u201cWe looked, and the baby was right there,\u201d Hooks said.<\/p>\n

The baby, a girl Duckett named ZaNiyah, was still in the amniotic sac. When Hooks removed her, ZaNiyah wasn’t breathing. Meanwhile, Duckett listened in fear as the firefighters did all they could to save her daughter. \u201cThey kept saying she wasn\u2019t looking too good,\u201d Duckett said. \u201cBut we had hope and we had faith \u2014 and she\u2019s a fighter. She really fought for her life.\u201d Not only was ZaNiyah not breathing, according to NBC Washington<\/a>, she also had no pulse at one point. But the tireless work of the firefighters saved her life.<\/p>\n

READ:\u00a0AMAZING: Premature baby given hours to live makes miraculous recovery<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

ZaNiyah, born in March, is now doing well, despite her scary entry into the world. \u201cShe fit in the palm of my hands,\u201d firefighter Shamia Pardlow said to WTOP. \u201cAnd I have small hands!\u201d<\/p>\n

This month, nine months after ZaNiyah was born, Duckett returned to the fire station to thank the people who saved her, handing out awards. NBC Washington reported that Duckett struggled to speak through her tears, saying, “I want to say thank you. We really appreciate you all.”<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s the day before Christmas, and the members of #DCsBravest<\/a> get to meet little baby ZaNiayh, who they brought back to life after being born prematurely & pulseless on Minnesota Ave SE in March. We are about to hold a ceremony to honor those involved. pic.twitter.com\/mKqp5U3T5t<\/a><\/p>\n

— DC Fire and EMS (@dcfireems) December 24, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n