Baby born in flying machine, named Josephine

Sheet music for the song "Come Josephine in My Flying Machine" (1910)
“Come Josephine in My Flying Machine” sheet music

Female physician Jean Persons tended to patients in remote parts of Alaska during the 1950s.

In the fall of 1954, Dr. Persons and bush pilot Garfield Hansen flew in a single-engine, four-seat airplane from the Alaska Native Health Service Hospital in Tanana to a village called Nulato — well over 100 miles away — to check on an indigenous Alaskan woman who was about to go into labor.

Dr. Persons decided to fly the patient to back to Tanana (“where blood and better facilities were available”) for the delivery. The baby, however, had other plans. Here’s the doctor’s account of the birth:

I sat behind the pilot. With no front chair on the right the patient was able to stretch her legs comfortably.

[…]

The weather was brisk with the temperature about zero and by this time it was pitch dark. All went well for half an hour. The patient held my hand and by her silent squeezings I could tell that her contractions were becoming more regular, stronger and more frequent. I was still not concerned and believe we would have made it had we not hit an air pocket and made a rather sudden severe drop. After that I knew we had lost and rapidly prepared the obstetrical kit in the cramped quarters. I handed the baby blanket to the pilot who warmed it over the tiny heater since the plane was very cold. Within a few more minutes I had made my only delivery of a patient in a sitting position which turned out quite satisfactorily. The baby howled lustily as anyone would coming into that icy air. After the baby was sucked out and hastily checked, she was wrapped in the warm blanket.

[…]

The pilot was bashful and never would look around, but most obligingly held the flashlight while I turned his arm to adjust this makeshift spotlight.

[…]

The baby was christened partially after me, but mostly after that flying machine — “Josephine Jean.”

The baby’s first name is a reference to the 1910 song “Come Josephine in My Flying Machine.”

P.S. If you want to know more about Dr. Persons, she hosted a Reddit AMA in 2017 (at the age of 92!).

Sources:

  • “Baby Born in Plane High Over Yukon River.” Hartford Courant 22 Mar. 1955: 9.
  • Tower, Elizabeth A., M.D. “Mid-Air Midwifery in Alaska.” Alaska Medicine Mar. 1962: 9-11.

[Latest update: Oct. 2023]

Facebook baby name contest

Toronto couple Robert and Rommy Alpinelli are naming their firstborn via Facebook. The baby girl, due in a matter of days, will be given whichever name has the most votes when Rommy goes into labor.

Right now, the top contenders are Aria and Melania. (The middle name will be Lauren.)

The contest is being sponsored by FabFind. The person who submits the winning name will win 25,000 rewards points from the site. The Alpinelli family will also receive rewards points.

To submit a name or cast a vote, log in to Facebook and go to the FabFind page. Anyone can play, but to win the prize you’ll have to be a Canadian resident living outside of Quebec.

Sources: Woman polls Facebook to choose baby’s name, Couple lets Facebook choose baby’s name

Update, 12/9 – Baby Melania (2,862 votes) was born on Tuesday, December 7. In total, almost 3,000 baby names were submitted and about 20,000 people from all over the world cast votes.

Source: Baby’s name chosen by Facebook vote

Baby name story: Adele

Sonia Holgate of Essex, England, went into labor in February of 2008.

She and her husband Craig drove to Queen’s Hospital in Romford, but didn’t make it past the parking lot — their baby girl was born in the back seat of the car, with the help of medical personnel.

One of the medics noticed that “Chasing Pavements” by Adele [vid] was playing on the car radio, so he suggested that Sonia and Craig name their daughter Adele. And so they did.

What was the singer’s response?

That’s so lovely of them. I’m really flattered. I’d love to give them a hug.

Source: Adele of a birth for car baby

Baby delivered by, and named for, cab driver

taxis

In late December, 1943, Anna Freed of Pittsburgh went into labor with her eighth child. She called a taxi to take her to the hospital, but by the time the taxi arrived, she was too far along to be driven anywhere.

So taxi driver George W. Lapp — who had served three years in the Army Medical Corps — went ahead and delivered the baby himself.

Anna, George, and baby George

He sterilized some kitchen equipment to use as instruments. Awkwardly but effectively, he performed the duties of a doctor and slapped breath into the baby. When the doctor arrived he said he couldn’t have done any better himself.

Lapp then drove Anna and the 9-pound, 4-ounce baby boy — named George in his honor — to the hospital.

Sources:

  • “Baby Named for Taxi Driver.” St. Petersburg Times 29 Dec. 1943: 3.
  • “Cabbie Doubles as As Midwife for Birth in Home.” Pittsburgh Press 28 Dec. 1943: 5.

Image: Adapted from Cinema Shooting by Alex Proimos under CC BY 2.0.