Wilmington Mother and Baby Reunite With Officer Who Helped Deliver Them

A Wilmington, Massachusetts, mother has reunited with the police officer who helped deliver her baby, creating a bond that will last a lifetime. Tatiana Topala and her newly expanded family met with Wilmington Police Officer Jack Rooney Thursday at the public safety building, just days after he helped her deliver her baby boy, Oliver, in a bathroom at her home.

The emergency unfolded around 2:25 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 28, when Topala woke up with contractions at her home on Lowell Street. “I knew that the baby was coming and I just yelled that he needs to call 911 right away,” Topala said. “When I felt a lot of pressure, I understood that this is it, I’m not gonna make it.” Her husband, Dennis Gotonoaga, called for help. Luckily, Rooney was on a detail right down the road and was able to get to Topala’s door in about 30 seconds. Officer Kyle Collins arrived a few minutes later.

Wilmington police officer reunites with baby he helped deliver

Police Officer Helps Deliver Baby

Rooney, who is in his fifth month on the job, found Topala in the midst of labor. “When she turned, the baby’s head was already crowning,” Rooney said. He helped get Topala to the floor as her husband grabbed a yoga mat and blankets and placed their 3-year-old toddler in another room. As Topala pushed between a bathroom door frame, the baby’s head emerged with the umbilical cord around his neck. “I just moved it a little bit and the baby started crying, so I was like, ‘oh, that’s a good sign,'” Rooney said. It was his first time holding a baby. “First time holding a baby too so a lot of new experiences all at once,” he said.

Parents Thank First Responders

Just five minutes after the initial 911 call, baby Oliver was born. Paramedics arrived and transferred the healthy mom and baby to Winchester Hospital. “We dried him off and got him bundled up and put him right on mommy’s chest and let him rest there for a while and then we slowly got everything organized,” said Steve Betman, a paramedic who responded to the scene. Topala and Gotonoaga expressed deep gratitude for the first responders. “I’m really grateful that the police officers came in and they were right around the corner, this happened how it happened,” Topala said. “We will be always be grateful for everybody that came in and helped us.” The family now has an unbelievable story to tell Oliver every year on his birthday.

Wilmington Mother and Baby Reunite With Officer Who Helped Deliver Them — Photo: whdh.com

Reunion at the Public Safety Building

The reunion was a chance for the family to thank the officers in person. “It was a sweet reunion in Wilmington,” a WHDH report noted. The family caught up with the police officers who helped deliver their baby, solidifying a connection forged in a moment of crisis. The event marked a successful outcome for everyone involved, from the first-time officer to the new parents.