MassBay EMT Student Helps Deliver Baby

Wednesday, July 14, 2021

WELLESLEY HILLS, Mass. (July 14, 2021) — Tropical storm, Elsa, was bearing down on Massachusetts with strong winds and soaking rain on Friday, July 9, 2021 as MassBay Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) student, Corinna Kent of Needham, MA, worked at her field internship with Patriot Ambulance. “It was pouring all morning and we didn’t have any calls, but I had this gut feeling that we were going to do something great to help someone that day,” said Corinna. Just before 1:00 PM, Corinna’s foreshadowing came to light, when Corinna and her Paramedic partners from Patriot Ambulance, Dave Arsenault and Cathie Lamburn, got a medical call for a woman in labor in her Marlborough, MA apartment.

“We arrived at the patient’s house and were told the woman had gone to the hospital earlier that day, but was sent home because she wasn’t in active labor. Upon arrival to her apartment, we assessed the patient and decided we had time to transport her to the hospital to deliver there. About five minutes into the ride, I noticed the baby’s head appearing. This baby did not want to wait for us to get to the hospital and delivery was imminent. It all happened so fast. We began prepping for the baby, heating up the truck and collecting all the blankets and towels we could find. The mom was amazing the whole time, very calm through the process. She only pushed about five times and the baby was out. The mom was able to hold her healthy baby boy right away. It was an amazing experience to be a part of.”

Corinna, a rising sophomore at Baylor University in Waco, TX, studies health sciences and is on a pre-medical track. She said, “I originally wanted an internship this summer to gain experience in the medical field, but finding one was difficult due to COVID. Fortunately, I discovered MassBay’s EMT program and knew it would be a great place to start, give me hands-on experience, and help me secure an EMT position when I go back to Baylor.” In 2018, Corinna interned in the obstetrics and gynecology department at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Brighton, MA, which piqued her interest in labor and delivery. “I always dreamed of working in the medical field, but after delivering this baby, the experience has solidified my career path and goals,” she added.

“When we arrived at UMass Memorial Hospital, there was a team of about 20 people ready to assist the mom and baby. After I knew they were safe and taken care of by the incredible team at UMass Memorial, I just stood for a moment in the middle of the room—buzzing with energy—and took a deep breath. I was overcome with an emotion that is inexplicable to someone who hasn’t experienced it, but if I had to put the feeling into words, it would be ‘unequivocal joy.’ By our hands, we brought a life into this world, and it is a memory I will never forget. It also clearly revealed to me my perfect career path.”

Just by chance, Corinna and her EMT classmates had trained on MassBay’s pregnancy simulation mannequin the day before the baby boy’s delivery. She said, “I have absolutely loved the EMT program at MassBay. The professors foster a healthy learning environment and have been incredible in equipping us with the skills and knowledge necessary to go out and save lives. I would love to be an obstetrician one day—being the one who delivers the baby. My unique and unexpected experience has given me a tiny glimpse of what is possible at the end a long journey on which I would be honored to embark.”

MassBay Community College is the most affordable higher education option in MetroWest Boston, offering a robust portfolio of courses and more than 70 associate degree and certificate programs with flexible day, evening, and weekend classes in Ashland, Framingham, Wellesley Hills, and online. MassBay students receive an unmatched educational value by earning stackable credits that transfer to bachelor’s degree programs, and workforce-ready skills necessary to advance careers in high-demand fields such as health and life sciences, automotive technology, engineering, business, cybersecurity, and the humanities. MassBay’s Associate Degree in Nursing (RN) and Practical Nursing (LPN) programs were both ranked as the #1 Nursing Program in Massachusetts in 2020-2021 by national nursing advocacy organizations RegisteredNursing.org, and PracticalNursing.org. Since its founding in 1961, MassBay has been accredited by several governing bodies and remains firmly committed to its mission of meeting the needs of the diverse local communities it serves. We value the intrinsic worth of all individuals, collectively in pursuit of inclusiveness and prioritize our work towards achieving equity within our community and beyond.