ARENA, Wis. — In an extraordinary turn of events, a Sauk County family welcomed their newborn baby, Nora, into the world with the help of a 911 dispatcher.

It all happened on the side of a highway, as Ethan and Morgan Glasson were on their way to the hospital.

What You Need To Know

  • The Glasson family welcomed their baby, Nora, in an unexpected delivery assisted by 911 dispatcher Jess Detter, a former paramedic with experience in roadside births

  • The dispatcher turned out to be a childhood friend and neighbor of the baby's father, adding a personal connection to the emergency situation

  •  During the birth, Ethan Glasson successfully freed the umbilical cord wrapped around baby Nora's neck, ensuring a safe delivery

  • The family plans to meet with Detter to express their gratitude, while their vehicle, which played a crucial role in the birth, is being refurbished with new seats and a thorough cleaning

 

Jess Detter was the dispatcher who took the call from Ethan Glasson, who was driving. Morgan Glasson was in the backseat, and her contractions started getting more intense and closer together. Soon, the couple realized they weren’t going to make it to the hospital in time.

Detter put her experience as a former paramedic to use. She found herself guiding the Glasson family through the delivery.

“I can’t imagine doing that in that environment to your body. I can’t imagine it wants that to happen for real, like, ‘Not here, not now,’” Detter said about the intensity of the situation.

An even more unique twist of fate, Detter and Ethan Glasson were childhood friends and neighbors.

“He grew up down the road from me. It just kind of flabbergasted me, the odds of that happening,” Detter said.

The situation escalated when Ethan Glasson noticed the umbilical cord wrapped around the baby’s neck. 

“Didn’t take much effort, and yeah, the cord came free,” Ethan said.

Morgan Glasson expressed her gratitude for Detter’s expertise and reassurance during the delivery.

“She knew all the things to say and look for, and what to expect, so that makes sense now,” she said, noting that Detter’s calm demeanor and knowledge were pivotal.

“It’s the happiest of happy endings, which is very rare in this job,” Detter said. “I felt very lucky to be a part of it.”

Both Morgan Glasson and baby Nora are doing well after the ordeal. They are eagerly planning a special meeting with Detter to thank her in-person for her role in Nora’s birth. Meanwhile, the family’s vehicle is getting new seats and a thorough cleaning.

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