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911 call of Chicago area mom who gave birth on road after hospital sent her home
For the first time, we're hearing the 911 call of when a Chicago area mother was forced to give birth on the side of the highway after a hospital sent her home despite having contractions.
INDIANA - We’re learning more about the couple who delivered their baby in their pickup truck after an Indiana hospital sent them home.
For the first time, the 911 call Mercedes and Leon Wells made when they realized their daughter was coming immediately has been released.
What we know:
Mercedes and Leon Wells said they begged for help before they were discharged from Franciscan Health in Crown Point.
On Tuesday, officials released the chaotic 911 call placed as Mercedes’ contractions intensified. The recording captures the moment their daughter, Alena, is born.
The call lasted 9 minutes and 32 seconds — an eternity for a family who said they were already failed by the medical system.
Leon Wells was driving north on I-65 when he pulled onto the shoulder to help deliver the baby. The dispatcher urged the couple to stay put, but with no medical help arriving, Leon said he faced a terrifying choice: remain on the side of a busy interstate or try to reach a hospital.
Concerned about exposing a newborn to cold temperatures and unsanitary roadside conditions, Leon drove west on I-80/94, heading to Community Hospital in Munster, where Mercedes and Alena received care for several days.
What's next:
Franciscan Health has fired a doctor and a nurse involved in the improper discharge, the family said.
U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly has introduced the Wells Act, named for Mercedes, which would urge hospitals and birthing centers to implement safe discharge plans.
Alena is now 2 weeks and 2 days old — and doing well.
RELATED: New details emerge in highway birth after mother’s hospital discharge
The Source: The information in this article was provided by FOX 32's Tia Ewing.