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Family First: Birth outside doughnut shop leads to new family of complete strangers

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Family First: Birth outside doughnut shop leads to new family of complete strangers
Everyone in this story says that the events on that October morning have now formed a lifelong connection -- a new family of complete strangers – Feb 17, 2020

As the saying goes, “it takes a village …”

That is certainly true of how a couple of paramedics, a doughnut shop owner and a mother giving birth in a parking lot have now formed a family bond.

“Hello! Can I hug you?” says young mother Deb Darling.

“Yes, absolutely!” replies paramedic Liz Kalnins.

Paramedics Liz Kalnins and Andrew Liersch meet mom Deb Darling. Global News

Meeting for the first time since the birth of their son Myles, mom Deb Darling and dad Kevin Monk meet the paramedics who helped deliver their baby in the parking lot of the Coffee Way Donuts at Division Street and Concession Street in Kingston.

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It was just before 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8, when baby Myles made his hasty appearance.

Left to right: Kevin Monk, Deb Darling, Andrew Liersch and Liz Kalnins. Global News

The couple thought they had all the time in the world to get to Kingston General Hospital from Sydenham.

“The contractions were not really consistent at that point [driving to hospital] and not intense at all,” says Darling.
“And when we left Sydenham, she [Darling] was four minutes apart,” says dad Kevin Monk, “so between Sydenham and here, which is about 10 to 15 minutes, it went from zero to a 100 real fast.”
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And it isn’t the couple’s first child; they have a four-year-old daughter, Avery, who was born after a 48-hour labour.

This time very different.

Four-year-old Avery. Global News

“Into the back of the ambulance and then he was out,” says Darling. “I’m not even sure they had the doors closed.”

“Before I closed [our] van door and walked to the side door of the ambulance, it was over,” says Monk.

“Usually it’s not as imminent as it was this time,” says paramedic Andrew Liersch. “Usually we have lots of time.”

Liersch and Kalnins, along with two other colleagues from the Frontenac Paramedic Services, all helped deliver baby Myles.

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“This time we showed up and could see Deb was already ready to go,” says Liersch.

“The baby was coming,” says Kalnins.

“That was definitely a surprise. Wasn’t expecting that one,” added Liersch.

Global News. Global News

Coffee Way Donuts owner Chris Brzezinski now calls himself the Godfather — baking the Myles blue topped doughnut in honour of his birth.

Coffee Way Donuts owner, Chris Brzezinski. Global News

Monk has been a customer for the last 25 years.

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“The father [Monk] was coming in because he is a regular customer,” says Brzezinski, “and he loves my eclairs.

“He said, ‘it’s a baby boy. I need my eclair now! I’m so stressed!'”

Everyone in this story says that the events on that October morning have now formed a lifelong connection — a new family of complete strangers.

Global News. Global News

At birth, Myles weighed seven pounds, seven ounces.

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