Woman stuck in flood goes into labor

(6/19/06 - KTRK/HOUSTON) (KTRK) -- It was a close call for a mother-to-be Monday morning. She went into labor on a water-logged southeast Houston road surrounded by traffic.

It is not quite the ideal place to bring a baby into this world -- the back seat of a Crown Victoria, but for 33-year-old Matilda Ruewacaba, it had to do. She and her family were stranded Monday morning along with hundreds of other people and she was just minutes from having a baby. In fact, her contractions were only 30 seconds apart.

Matilda, her husband, and their four children were on the way to the hospital when they hit the high water along the Gulf Freeway. It was the height of the storm.

They pulled over into a parking lot just north of Monroe to seek help. Help came soon from eager firefighters in training, who were also stranded. One cadet tended to her in the back seat, even fanning her while others searched for needed medical equipment. Forget the academy, this was real life training.

"If it's any more complicated than what these guys already know, then it's going to be a big problem fast," said eyewitness Terry Davis.

The cadets did what they could while they waited for an ambulance and traffic was a problem.

"Getting the apparatus to the right place at the right time, it can be a challenge," said Captain Matthew Faulker.

For more than two hours, the mother went through labor in the confines of a back seat. Finally, with an audience of onlookers, she was transported. An hour later, in a real maternity ward, the mother who so calmly almost gave birth in a car, welcomed a little baby girl.

Matilda told us she named the little girl Saria. She weighs 8 pounds, 11 ounces and she's doing well. As for the cadets who helped, the captain says they could be recommended for an award.
(Copyright © 2006, KTRK-TV)

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