MOBILE – USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital participated in a remarkable childbirth experience on March 24.  As Cynthia Matthews gave birth to her newborn son, her husband, Sgt. Chad Matthews, was there every step of the way – despite the fact that he was stationed in Iraq with the U.S. Marines.

The Matthews were brought together through a live videoconference coordinated by USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital, with technical assistance provided by the USA Center for Strategic Health Innovation and the Freedom Calls Foundation, a national organization that links troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan with their loved ones back home.  The happy couple reunited again in the hospital on March 26, with area news media present.

“Every birth is a miracle, but this one is especially so,” said Dr. Becky DeVillier, USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital Administrator.

Sgt. and Mrs. Matthews contacted the Freedom Calls Foundation weeks ago to set the plan in motion, and USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital and the USA Center for Strategic Health Innovation worked with Freedom Calls to make accommodations for this special delivery, bringing in special equipment and wiring for one of the hospital’s labor and delivery suites.

Mrs. Matthews, who lives in Satsuma, was due to deliver the couple’s second child on March 26.  Instead, rapid contractions compelled her to come to USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital two days ahead of schedule.  The videoconferencing equipment was already in place and Sgt. Matthews was notified.

Through five hours of labor, Sgt. Matthews was there on a 20-inch video monitor in Mrs. Matthews’ labor and delivery suite.  “I never could have imagined that Chad could be here for the birth when he is 8,000 miles away fighting a war,” she said.

Finally, at 9:19 a.m. on March 24, Braxton Xavier Lee Matthews came into the world, weighing eight pounds and three ounces.

Two days later, Braxton, his three-year-old brother, Chaz, and Sgt. and Mrs. Matthews held a follow up videoconference.

“I’m so thankful that USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital and the Freedom Calls Foundation enabled my husband to participate in the birth of his son,” Mrs. Matthews said.

“We want to thank Freedom Calls for making this connection,” said DeVillier.  “We appreciate how uniquely special and significant the birth of a baby is in the lives of parents, and we were delighted to make these arrangements.”