by Kate Shunney
Andrew Toscano said his wife didn’t tell him she was in labor on Friday evening, until their son was nearly ready to enter the world.
Margrett Toscano was due to deliver on Wednesday, March 23, but late on Friday, March 18 she started having labor pains. Her husband said she woke him shortly after 11 p.m. Very soon after, he could see the hair on his son’s head.
There was no time to take his wife to the hospital, so Toscano called Morgan County 911 and dispatcher John Diehl talked him through delivering his child on the couch.
“We ended up having the baby in the home. We were able to do that because 911 talked us through,” Toscano told The Morgan Messenger on Monday.
“We were so impressed with the 911 system here. It was so impressive,” he said.
Two ambulances from Morgan County EMS arrived quickly to help the Toscanos and make sure baby Ambrose was healthy.
Morgan County EMT Melody Stotler holds Ambrose Toscano, born at home. Also pictured, are, left, EMT James West and Paramedic Colin Graham.
photo courtesy of Andrew Toscano
“When EMS arrived, they said the baby was perfectly fine and mom was fine. They cut the cord, warmed Ambrose, and took him and Margrett to Berkeley Medical Center,” he said.
Toscano credited dispatcher Diehl with managing a noisy and intense call. He said the couple’s 20-month old child was crying in the background, their puppy was barking, and he was trying to quiet everyone so he could hear the instructions being given to him.
Ambulances arrived fast, said Toscano.
“They were able to find the house no problem. Delivery drivers can never find it!” he said.
The proud father praised 911 and EMS for their “professionalism, their quickness” in responding.
The baby was born just four minutes after Toscano made his emergency call.
The Toscanos moved to Berkeley Springs in September of 2020 from New York. Andrew said he is impressed with the emergency response he got on the night he delivered his son at home.
“Trust me, New York City 911 is nothing like what you have here,” he said.
After two days in Berkeley Medical Center, Ambrose Toscano is back home with his parents and little sister.
