Across the miles -- Intel Airman joins wife in delivery room via Internet

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Brittany Paerschke-O'Brien
  • 9th Intelligence Squadron
BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  From a half a world away, Staff Sgt. Daniel and his wife Robin made the best of a difficult situation.

With Daniel deployed to Afghanistan and his wife back home at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., the couple searched for a way for him to be a part of their first child's birth.

Daniel, an intelligence analyst assigned to the 13th Intelligence squadron, and his wife were married April 16, 2012, in the back country of a Lake Tahoe mountaintop. They confirmed their vows and snowboarded down the mountain in celebration of their union. About the same time, they discovered that Robin was pregnant. Three months later, Daniel received a short-notice tasking to deploy. Luckily, the latter half of his pre-deployment training occurred at Beale which allowed him more time with his wife before departing.

The two discovered they could stay in regular contact by using the Internet-based Skype program which allows voice and video conversations. Through constant communication, Daniel and Robin narrowed the list of first names down to Avery.

On her delivery day, Robin drove herself four hours to Sutter Roseville Hospital. Robin went to the hospital thinking she only needed a few tests, but instead learned she was in labor. Robin was able to talk to Daniel using Skype on her phone and later through a laptop set up on a table in the hospital room.

"We wanted to (use) Skype because it was the closest thing to actually being there," Daniel said. "This is our first baby and it was killing me not be there to help her through it." 

Daniel was able to access a dependable Internet connection in his squadron's break room, and he stayed awake for 32 hours straight. After 14 hours of labor, Daniel witnessed the birth of his new daughter.

"It was one of the hardest things to do, to see (Robin) in so much pain and to not be there to even hold her hand," he said.

"It's great that we have the ability to bring families together for such a special moment, despite the extreme distance," said Daniel's squadron commander, Lt. Col. David. "Our families sacrifice a great deal during deployments, but small examples like this are tangible reminders of what we must do to maintain strong families in spite of the separation."

Daniel and his wife plan to keep in contact through the Internet and phone calls so that he can watch his daughter grow throughout the remainder of his deployment. He will get to hold Avery for the first time when he returns in 2013.