Love's labour delivered during English exam
Last Updated: Thursday, March 1, 2007 | 11:27 AM PT
CBC News
As an excuse to get out of writing an English exam, having a baby right there in the classroom may be going a bit far. But that's what a student did in New Westminster, B.C., on Wednesday.
Halfway through her exam at New Westminster's Douglas College, Haddy Faal-Keita — who was eight months pregnant — felt her contractions become too strong to continue, so she asked for permission to leave.
Her professor went to call paramedics, but the baby couldn't wait.
"My water broke. The next thing I know, this was the baby. She was out in my pants," Faal-Keita said.
When her instructor, Jill MacLachlan, returned, it was clear the ambulance wouldn't arrive in time. She and some of her students delivered the baby in the classroom.
"We put a blanket over her and pulled down her pants, and the baby slipped right out immediately," MacLachlan said.
Mother and daughter were doing well Thursday morning at Royal Columbian Hospital.
Faal-Keita said that what MacLachlan and her classmates did was incredible.
"I appreciate everything they did for me, especially my teacher Jill. She was very helpful to me."
Faal-Keita said she's feeling fine, and plans to return to school next week to finish her exam.
Douglas College is offering Faal-Keita's newborn girl free tuition for one year if she ends up going there as an adult.
Share Tools
Latest British Columbia News Headlines
- Former Stanley Park petting zoo goats feared slaughtered
- The chair of Vancouver's park board says she's outraged at the possible slaughter of goats that used to live at the Stanley Park farmyard. more »
- New Westminster man saves woman from house fire
- A New Westminster, B.C., man is being called a hero after rescuing a woman from the balcony of a burning home early Sunday morning. more »
- Adults-only trade show cancelled in B.C. Bible belt
- Organizers of an adults-only trade show say they're cancelling a three-day event that was scheduled to take place in British Columbia's Bible belt. more »
- Canada fails to advance to Davis Cup quarters
- Canada failed to advance to the Davis Cup quarter-finals Sunday as France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beat surprise substitute Frank Dancevic in straight sets in Vancouver. more »
Top News Headlines
- Markets gain after Greece approves austerity plan
- World stock markets rise after Greece's parliament approves a new set of austerity measures that were required by international lenders in exchange for an emergency bailout. more »
- Hit and run victim's family fears accused will walk
- The family of a young mother killed in a hit and run is outraged that the case against the alleged driver is among thousands in B.C. at risk of being thrown out because of a huge court backlog. more »
- CBC launches digital music service
- CBC is diving into the world of online music with the goal of providing listeners access to their favourite tunes and a way to discover new artists and connect with fellow music fans. more »
- Market moves: Is it time to start investing in the world yet?
- Investors have always been told that diversification is one of the best ways to reduce the risk associated with a portfolio, but they often aren't told the whole story. more »
- Former Stanley Park petting zoo goats feared slaughtered
- Adults-only trade show cancelled in B.C. Bible belt
- New Westminster man saves woman from house fire
- B.C. vets call for ban on dog docking, cropping
- Crane drops section of Port Mann bridge into B.C. river
- Langley man struck, killed by train
- RCMP request retraction over 'slanderous' article
- Pickton investigators defended by man who warned of killer
- Emailed rave rape pictures earn teen probation
