When Jonathan DuBois, a 911 dispatcher from Tuftonboro, New Hampshire, picked up an overnight shift, he had no idea it would lead to a connection that would touch hearts nationwide. This incredible story, featured on Boston.com, began with a call from Nick McNally, a father navigating an emergency childbirth at home.
An unexpected bond forms through a phone call
This wasn’t just another call for DuBois, a father of a 5-year-old with another baby on the way. “I try to treat all the calls I take as if it’s my brother, my sister, my family on the other end,” he shared.
When the contractions were a minute apart, DuBois knew the baby would arrive before first responders could reach the home. As he provided instructions, he stayed calm and clear, knowing every second counted.
“You guys have had a lasting impact on me”
The call came on a cold January night when Keelin Shea, 32, went into labor two weeks early. The couple had planned to give birth at a hospital in North Conway, but the baby had other plans. With no time for the hour-long drive, Shea’s water broke at home. In the heat of the moment, McNally dialed 911, where he was connected to DuBois.
For 10 intense minutes, DuBois guided McNally and Shea as they delivered their baby girl, Annalise, in their bathroom. “You keeping your calm just helped me keep my calm in the situation,” McNally told DuBois when they met in person a month later. DuBois, visibly emotional, replied, “You guys have had a lasting impact on me. I’m not going to forget it.”
Related: ‘You kept me calm’: Michigan mom delivers baby in ambulance with help from heroic first responders
The challenges and rewards of a surprise home birth
Shea initially mistook her cramping for prodromal labor (false labor) and decided to stay home. By the time the contractions intensified, it was too late to leave. But Shea found unexpected peace delivering at home. “I actually thought it was less traumatic at home and to be in my own place,” she said. “I could feel exactly what I needed to do without anyone intervening.”
McNally, on the other hand, admitted to feeling nervous and frustrated, especially since he’d urged Shea to go to the hospital earlier. Despite the chaotic circumstances, the couple was grateful for the outcome.
Related: Baby born at Krispy Kreme during rare Alabama snowstorm
A heartfelt reunion and lasting gratitude
After the birth, first responders transported Shea and Annalise to the hospital, ensuring their safety. But the story didn’t end there. McNally reached out to thank DuBois for his unwavering support. “I’d love to meet him and shake his hand and just let him know how grateful we were,” McNally said. And that’s exactly what happened a month later, when the family and dispatcher reunited at the Tuftonboro Fire Rescue Department.
The impact of the call lingers
For DuBois, meeting the family brought closure to an experience he would never forget. “For the most part, we don’t really know what happens after we get off the phone with them because we have to get ready for our next call,” he said. “So to have the full circle, it’s really special and nice.”
This heartwarming story is a reminder of the vital role 911 dispatchers play and the extraordinary connections that can form, even during life’s most stressful moments.
