Harvey Floods Trap Woman In Labor, Then Neighbors Form Human Chain
August 30, 2017
A Tough Journey
The journey to welcoming Adrielle Smith into the world certainly wasn't easy. But the little girl's parents, Andrea and Greg Smith, say it was full of God moments!“Everything about this pregnancy is God’s will,” Greg said.The journey started with heartache. The couple suffered two miscarriages before Andrea was successful in carrying a pregnancy full-term. The losses were heartbreaking, but the couple leaned on their faith to see them through.
“We felt like we had to surrender this to God,” Greg explained.Then the contractions started. But they carried on for weeks, so the couple waited to see when God would decide it was time. Believe it or not, that time came during Hurricane Harvey!
Preparing For A Home Delivery
With Andrea's looming due date and intense contractions, Greg kept a close eye on the weather. The couple planned to head to the hospital Sunday morning, thinking they'd miss the worst of Hurricane Harvey.“I expected there would be five or six inches that I could drive through,” Greg says. “I woke up to two or three feet.”Needless to say, Harvey surprised everyone. And by Sunday morning, the couple realized there was no way they'd be driving to the hospital. RELATED: Woman Gave Birth Not Knowing She Was Pregnant, Then Gets A Miracle Greg tried calling 911, but couldn't get through.
“It kept kicking us off the line,” he says. “I couldn’t get through.”He had no better luck when trying the Coast Guard. Desperate times call for desperate measures, so the couple nervously started preparing for an impromptu at-home delivery. Even though both Andrea and Greg happen to be doctors, neither have experience in obstetrics. Andrea works in geriatrics and Greg is a pediatric anesthesiologist. But the two were trusting in God to see them through.
"I knew I would have to do this myself," Greg says. "I had some courage, though. Even if I had to do a home birth, I felt like it was going to be okay."
Coming Together
The couple didn't have any medical supplies on hand. Thankfully, though, quite a few medical professionals live in the same apartment complex. And after a neighbor put out a call for help on a community message board, they started bringing whatever supplies they could find -- sutures, scissors, etc. -- to the couple's apartment. Greg's mother started boiling water and sterilizing the instruments. Another neighbor opened up their second-floor apartment to the expecting parents so they could move to higher ground. Greg got in touch with an out-of-town obstetrician-friend, and they started coming up with a plan for the at-home delivery. RELATED: Family Turns To Facebook For Rescue During Hurricane Harvey Though everyone was doing all they could to help, the procedure was clearly going to be risky. Another neighbor was able to contact someone whose father lived across from a fire station. The man walked to the station and filled the firefighters in on the situation. Credit: Greg Smith via People The firefighters showed up in a large dump truck. Greg had no idea the truck was there for them, so he ran out and tried to flag it down.“They said, ‘We’re here for you,’ ” Greg recalls, still amazed.Of course, they still had to get Andrea to the truck. And with the raging floodwaters, it would be no easy task!
Neighbors Formed A Human Chain
Greg and Andrea were delighted to have a ride to the hospital. Everyone had already gone so far above and beyond to help them. But what happened next is a beautiful display of compassion and teamwork. RELATED: Divine Intervention Used Principal To Save Students From Flood People rushed out into the pouring rain, and the kind neighbors formed a human chain to help get Andrea to the truck. One by one, each person assisted the woman in labor as she waded through the floodwaters.WATCH: Neighbors Formed A Human Chain To Help Woman In Labor
"I wanted so bad to be on that dump truck,” she says. "They were whisked away before I knew it."
Right Place, Right Time
Thanks to the many hands that came together to help the Smiths, the dump truck successfully got the couple to the hospital. The staff gave them fresh, dry clothes to change into, and by 1:59 a.m. on Monday, their sweet daughter, Adrielle, arrived! The little girl was healthy, but did have some complications which required her to spend some time in the intensive care unit. Credit: Greg Smith via People"If she were born at home, that wouldn’t have been the best place for her," Greg said. "I’m so glad she is in the hospital."Which just goes to show how God used all of those neighbors to get Greg and Andrea right where they needed to be!
"Everything about this pregnancy we said is God’s will," Greg explained. "That’s why her name is Adrielle. It means she belongs to God."What a beautiful example of being the hands and feet of Jesus! h/t: People YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: 12-Year-Old Girl Helps Deliver Baby Brother, Then Has Sweetest Reaction
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for God to Lead Us in Voting on Election Day - Your Daily Prayer - November 4
With all the controversy and issues surrounding American voting over the years, many individuals, including some Christians, may wonder if it even matters if they vote. Still, as Christians, we are called to vote in a way that honors, pleases, and reflects God’s ways.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for God to Lead Us in Voting on Election Day - Your Daily Prayer - November 4
With all the controversy and issues surrounding American voting over the years, many individuals, including some Christians, may wonder if it even matters if they vote. Still, as Christians, we are called to vote in a way that honors, pleases, and reflects God’s ways.
Past Stories
- Donny Osmond Sees the 'End of the Tunnel' Coming After Performing for Over 6 Decades
- An Iguana Hitches a Ride on a Garbage Truck in Tennessee, Now Trying to Find Its Owner
- 6-Year-Old Starts 'Poop Scooping' Business to Help Animals and Adopt One of His Own
- Bride's Dad Drops During Father-Daughter Dance, but Things Lined up Perfectly to Save His Life
- Young North Carolina Father Risked His Life To Save a Couple and Dog From a Sinking Truck
- UPS Driver Jumps into Action As He Spots Elderly Woman on the Ground & Says It Was All God
- Rescuer Braces for the Worst After Spotting Kitten on the Side of the Road, Then Sees a Paw Move
- AJ Griffin Gives Up High-Paying Career with NBA to Follow God
- These Former Conjoined Twins Finally Go Home After Their First Birthday
- Teenager From Iowa Uses His Flying Skills to Help Hurricane Helene Victims
- Son Saves For 9 Months and Surprises Mom By Paying Off Her Mortgage
- Woman's Home is Surrounded By 100 Raccoons, and They Aren't Leaving Anytime Soon
- Dog Saves Her Owner's Life By Sitting in the Middle of the Road
- Widower Shares the Last Thing His Wife Told Their Son Before She Passed Away From Cancer
- A Nurse Saved Her Life 35 Years Ago, Now, She is Surprising Her With a Visit
- These Twin Sisters Have An Important Message To Share On Their 102nd Birthday
- This Brave 5-Year-Old Saved Her Mother's Life By Calling 911
- 79-Year-Old Broke Her Ankle After Scattering Her Mom's Ashes, Then Strangers Save the Day
- Dad Travels Through Mud and Debris to Walk His Daughter Down the Aisle
- Owner's Trip to the Vet with Unwell Dog Results in the Craziest X-Ray
- After Getting Lost in Yellowstone, This Precious Cat Made His Way Back Home To California
- Mom's Funny Response To Daughter's Dirty Sock On The Floor Goes Viral & Ends Up Doing Good
- A Kidnapped Boy Is Found After 70 Years and Reunited With His Family
- This Puppy Was Found With a Note That Read 'Help Me,' Now He's Looking For a New Home
- Excited Mom Couldn't Wait to See Son's Back to School Pictures, but Funny Results Make Her LOL
- When This Police Officer Pulled Her Over, He Changed Her Life Forever
- She Just Met Her Vietnam Veteran Father After 50 Years, Now He is Walking Her Down the Aisle
- Fearless Father Waits on Porch to Catch the Stranger Peeking in His Daughter's Window
- This 5th Grade Teacher Eats Lunch In the Cafeteria Every Day
- Amy Grant Has a New Perspective After Losing Her 'Superpower' in Bike Accident
- 'God Did It' Says 18-Year-Old After Waking Up From a Coma Following a Crash
- These Four Sisters Share a Birthday, Which is Quite the Miracle
- Dad Harmony Sings a Beautiful A Cappella Rendition of ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love'
- Couple's Outstanding Boogie Woogie Dance Performance
- Siblings’ Cover of Dolly Parton’s Classic ‘I Will Always Love You’ Is Incredible
- Pastor and Wife Were Killed in a Car Accident, But Their Kids Have a Message of Hope
- Outstanding 'Amazing Grace' Cover Music Video by Celtic Woman
- Carrie Underwood Helps With Leading Worship at Tennessee Church
- 8-Year-Old Kid's To-Do List Goes Viral As a Wholesome Reminder for Us All
- 'Holy Forever' Lyric Video by Chris Tomlin and CAIN
- Elementary Teacher Talks About the Power of Words and Kindness By Using Toothpaste
- Prayers Pour in for Loretta Lynn's Family After the Death of the Late Singer's First Grandchild
- Dennis Quaid Singing 'On My Way To Heaven" is an Inspiring Performance
- Charming Elderly Couple Share Sweet Dance to 'Have You Ever Seen The Rain?"
- Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick Adorably Sing a Sassy Duet to Celebrate 36 Years of Marriage
- Rory Feek Performs Beautiful Tune 'I Do' After Finding Love Again
- Driver Shows Up to Deliver Pizza to Elderly Man's House, Then Comes Back with His Lawnmower
- What Parents & Grandparents Don't Know About 'Easy' Recipe Trend Could Be Dangerous
Top Music Videos
The Statler Brothers 'Til the Storm Passes By' The Statler Brothers Live Performance
Anne Wilson Anne Wilson’s Powerful Live Performance of 'The Cross'
Brad Stine Has Issues Brad Stine’s Hilarious Take on Life After the Wedding
Cody Carnes Cody Carnes - He Who Is To Come
Oak Ridge Boys 'Jesus Is Coming Soon' The Oak Ridge Boys
Blogs
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.