Emergency 111 Call Ends With Baby Born And An Emotional Reunion For Hato Hone St John Call Handler

There were tears, laughs and plenty of hugs when Hato Hone St John emergency call handler Anna Evans entered the Milich home to meet the baby boy she helped deliver over a 111 call.

“He’s so beautiful,” Anna beamed as she cuddled seven-day old Luka Ariki Peter Milich in her arms.

Based at Christchurch’s communications centre, Anna flew up to Auckland to meet Luka, mum Lia and Lia’s mum Kristene on Wednesday (May 7) – one week after she skilfully helped guide Lia through the birth.

Lia experienced labour pains the night of the 29 April, but thought they were Braxton Hicks contractions.

“I didn’t think too much of it as my first son Kylo had been a long labour and my contractions were really inconsistent and not really painful,” Lia smiled.

Going about her morning routine, it wasn’t until she went to the bathroom the 31-year-old realised she was in labour.

Her bags were loaded into the car by her partner Tuki Hanlon, but before they could get out the door, her waters broke.

“All I wanted to do was jump in the shower, so that’s what I did,” Lia said, “then I yelled out to mum who was in the lounge.”

Anna recounted the 111 call she answered from Kristene at 11.02am on Wednesday 30 April.

“Kristene explained Lia’s waters had broken,” Anna said.

With four years’ experience as a Hato Hone St John call handler, Anna knew how vital it was to ensure Kristene remained calm, listened and followed her instructions.

Two minutes into the call, Kristene reported seeing Luka’s head and things quickly escalated.

With all three adults cramped into the Milich’s tiny bathroom, Kristene and Tuki followed Anna’s instructions to the letter.

“They did so well… my eyes started to tear up when I heard him [Luka] cry,” Anna said.

With the call ended, Anna burst into happy tears.

“This is the most rewarding job ever, and it’s moments like this one where I think to myself ‘this is exactly why I come and do it’.”

The official time of Luka’s birth was recorded at 11.06am – four minutes after the call was made. Anna stayed on the phone until a nearby ambulance crew arrived and transported Lia and Luka to Auckland City Hospital – where the pair were later discharged that afternoon.

Seated on the couch at the Milich’s Mount Wellington home on Wednesday, Anna, Kristen and Lia listened back to the 111 call.

There were tears, but more laughter from the new mum, as she heard her delivery played back.

“It was really nice to know someone like Anna was there just to guide us,” Lia said.

Luka was originally due on May 5.

“I didn’t think for one moment I’d be helping to deliver my grandson when I woke up that morning,” Kristene laughed.

“Listening to the call, I’m really surprised to hear how calm I was,” Kristene laughed.

Both women have nothing but praise for Anna, who is a proud member of Hato Hone St John’s Stork Club.

The Stork Club is a special recognition awarded to call handlers who have helped deliver a baby over the phone.

“Once you’ve been part of such a call, we are given a small badge (a stork pin) by our team leader.”

“It’s something special knowing you have helped bring a life into this world. For me meeting Kirstene, Lia and Luka has been the highlight of my career,” she smiled.

Anna will keep in contact with the Milich family, and herself is expecting her first grandchild in a few weeks.

“You never know my grandchild and Luka just might meet one day.”

Anna also gifted Luka a greenstone toki, which she had blessed the morning of the joyous reunion.

“There’s calls that will stay in your head forever – and Luka will definitely be one of them,” Anna said, still cradling him.

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