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Baby boy couldn't wait to be born

The father and mother were headed to the hospital, but he had his own plan.

By ABBIE VANSICKLE
Published November 9, 2006

	Tampa police Officer Darlene Cardoso says goodbye at Tampa General Hospital to Oscar Rivera Jr. and his mother, Gricelda Lucas, as Ruby Speights waits to wheel them to their room.
[Times photo: Ken Helle]

TAMPA - Gricelda Lucas and her husband stopped at a red light only minutes from Tampa General Hospital, but Lucas knew the baby couldn't wait.

"The truth is, at the beginning I was very afraid," said Lucas. A hospital worker translated her words from Spanish. "This one was born very fast."

Thanks to a dump truck driver, two police officers and Tampa Fire Rescue crews, Gricelda Lucas's baby boy, Oscar Rivera Jr., was born safely inside the family's sedan.

Lucas, 20, and her husband, Oscar Rivera, left their home in Dover early Tuesday morning, heading for the hospital. They thought they would make it in time.

But at Brorein Street and Florida Avenue, Lucas couldn't wait any longer. Her husband summoned a dump truck driver stopped at a traffic light, and the driver ran to a nearby police officer.

Officer Darlene Cardoso realized what was happening and radioed for other officers, then helped Lucas give birth.

"I knew I had to do something," she said.

Cardoso's supervisor, Cpl. Kellie Daniel, held the baby until rescue crews arrived.

When the three women were reunited at the hospital Wednesday morning, Lucas thanked the officers as she smiled as she cradled Oscar, her second child.

Both officers were pleased to see both mother and child were safe and healthy.

"Amazing!" said Cardoso, looking at tiny Oscar.

"It's great."

Staff writer Abbie Vansickle can be reached at 813 226-3373 or vansickle@sptimes.com

[Last modified November 9, 2006, 01:14:35]