If Kimberly Sue Kotob's baby boy grows up to be a sprinter, it would not surprise Ashland responders, given the speed at which the newborn made his way into the world yesterday.Kimberley was ready to give birth after only an hour of labor, according to dispatcher David Blake.

"You could hear her in the background -- definitely when the contractions came," said Blake, who managed to keep the mother and grandmother Barbra Dickerson calm until paramedics arrived.

After moving Kotob by stretcher into the ambulance, paramedics were ready to make a dash for the hospital, but the new baby beat them to the finish line. Jordan, a 7-pound, 11-ounce healthy baby boy, was delivered at 1:09 p.m. in the ambulance.

Mohamed and Kimberly Sue Kolob, baby Jordan, and paramedic Lyn Moraghan.

Jordan's quick arrival surprised everyone except paramedic Lyn Moraghan, who declared after checking on Kotob, "This baby is coming now," Kotob and Moraghan recalled in a reunion at MetroWest Medical Center hours later.

Kotob called her husband, accountant Mohamed Kotob, at work in Brighton around noon telling him she was going into labor even though her due date was not until Nov. 6. Their first son's birth came after 16 hours of labor, so Mohamed thought he had time to clear off his desk, talk to his boss and casually make his way home.

A second call 15 minutes later from his wife declaring, "Leave now!" got him moving faster, but he still drove the speed limit home.
And when he arrived there was an ambulance and police cars in his driveway. His son was already born, with Dickerson cutting the umbilical cord in the back of the ambulance.

Kimberley said she never panicked and thought the cramps of labor were just the beginning of the birthing process.
While Jordan's older brother, Mak, 2, has "thousands" of photos of his birth from the delivery room, only a few quick shots in the back of the ambulance document Jordan's big arrival.

"But I have his story," Kimberley beamed.

For Fire Lt. David Iarussi, it was the third delivery assist he has made in his career.

"A lot of times firefighters see loss of life and tragedies, so this was nice," said Iarussi. "I have three children of my own, so six of the best days of my life were the witnessed birth of six children, three of mine and three on duty."

Iarussi said he and his crew of Richard Nardini, Moraghan and Morgan Hunter thought they would have enough time to get to the hospital, but he suspects the last bit of jostling getting to the ambulance was the trigger.

"The baby decided enough was enough and he came into this world," Iarussi said.

For dispatcher Blake, hearing the labor and sense of urgency over the phone hit home. His wife is seven months pregnant with their first child.

"I'm ready now," he said.