INTEGRIS Canadian Valley Hospital Press Release
September 26, 2008

Nic in IRAQ watching Emily and Zaylie at ICanadian Valley Hospital

They were high school sweethearts, both graduates of Amber/Pocasset High School, and newlyweds, now expecting their first baby.  And, as any first-time father would be, Corporal Nicholas White is nervous as he anxiously awaits the birth of his baby.  The only difference is, while his wife Emily is lying on the operating table for a C-Section delivery at INTEGRIS Canadian Valley Hospital, Nic is thousands of miles away in Iraq.  But on this day (September 12th), thanks to modern technology, Nic is able to actually witness the birth of his first child through a video conference feed made possible by the “Freedom Calls” organization and the INTEGRIS TeleHealth department.

In an instant, the miles between them seem to disappear as a mother and father finally get to meet little Zaylie Jo White face-to-face.  Delivering physician, Dr. Rachelle Davis, holds baby Zaylie up to the TV screen for dad to get a closer look at his precious new daughter.  He watches as she’s weighed and measured: 7 pounds, 6 ounces, 19 inches long.  He listens as she cries - a daughter that already misses daddy in just her first few minutes of life!

Of course both parents wish they could have physically been together for this most momentous of occasions, but under the circumstances, they both agree this was the next best thing.  On behalf of the hospital, Beverly Gossage noted, “We are very fortunate that we were able to utilize the services of our INTEGRIS TeleHealth department to coordinate this live video feed provided by the “Freedom Calls” organization.  Miracles happen almost daily, but it’s not often that you can share a miracle such as this half way around the world.”

Corporal Nicholas White is still nervous and anxious, this time for the day he gets to come home.  Nic is expected to return to the states next April - baby Zaylie will be seven months old.