Baby Born on high Seas

Dr Prakash Harischandra
Senior Physician
Carnival Cruise Lines.

California, May 29: It was a regular day on the Carnival Paradise for the medical team.

The 911 emergency call received from a guest cabin for medical team turned out to be super action for the whole ship.

We were heading from Ensenada, Mexico to Long Beach , California on 27 May 2010.

The next moment when the grandmother walked to our medical center on  board and said , I think my daughter needs attention turned out to be a adrenaline event.

Full emergency resources were placed to action and we were all on war footing.The ships command made sure all resources were placed at our disposal at the place of the deliver int he guest cabin , It was tricky situation with a narrow space where our true skills were tested to its best , with a catch nine situation we could neither move the mother or the baby, but it all turned out to be a smooth ride with her sheer determination to make her arrival a impact on our lives..

The medical complaint we received, which initially we thought was a routine one turned out to be a sheer bundle of joy in the form a baby girl

Cara (for Carnival) Paradise Villalobos  ( named later) at 10:20 AM on 27 May 2010 pacific daylight time.
Baby Cara just was there being cuddled by her aunt , grasping the nurses chain, filling our hearts with her shrill pitched cry, her mother was all smiles and tears, the family bit shaken but ecstatic about the surprise arrival.

We were in International waters .This was sure going down as a memorable day in my 11 year medical career.

After initial stabilization and making sure the mother and child was healthy we intimated US coast guard .
Captain Pierluigi Lanaro promptly diverted his ship towards San Diego ,CA were we were met by a Coast Guard boat , the mother and child were promptly transferred to the boat.This was the first time incident for his 30 years of marine service diverting for a new born on board.

Sure they had a fast ride to  an waiting ambulance an on her way to KAiser Hospital , San Diego, CA.
The nurses sure missed the brief period of attachment they had with this tiny star for about three hours, tears trickled down our cheeks,she  was sure a star for this super liner.

A overhead announcement was made to announce the arrival the new one.

She was a true international Citizen, I was proud to sign her Birth statement.

She stands to be welcomed back again anytime on this floating resort.
Nature is full of surprises.

What a fast paced ride for her in the first few hours of life .

For those keeping score, that's cruise ship; motor boat; ambulance to the hospital.  This kid's destined for action movies.