Family, dispatchers celebrate baby's early arrival

NORTH WILMINGTON, Del. - May 2, 2008 When Anthony Xavier, 8lbs 15 oz., arrived healthy, but two weeks early, he caught his parents Shannon and Charles Babu off guard. Early on April 17th, Charles called paramedics when Shannon's water broke.

"My wife is in labor and the baby is coming," Charles said on the 911 tape.

Little Anthony didn't wait for help as he appeared on the bathroom floor within seconds as the dispatcher got on the phone.

As paramedics raced toward the Babu's North Wilmington home, the dispatcher coached the couple's efforts to make sure the newborn was ok.

As the dispatcher talked Dad through cleaning the baby and tying his umbilical chord, you can hear big brother Vinnie chime in.

"Is that the new baby coming?" Vinnie said.

Ultimately, emergency crews arrived, cut the umbilical chord, and took the family to the hospital.

"You hear so many stories about people having a home birth that wasn't planned and it can be so disastrous. We were just lucky," Shannon Babu said.

The Babu's believe the emergency crews helped them avoid any complications and invited them over to offer thanks and reintroduce them to little Anthony..

"We just wanted to tell you all thank you so much for helping us and keeping control and helping us not panic," Shannon said.

"It makes you feel great. For all the calls we do and we don't know about the outcomes," New Castle County Dispatcher Jamie Rosseel said.

Little Anthony may have made a few friends for life, just by showing up a little early.