Technology Helps Marine Dad See Son's Birth

By Craig Day, News On 6

CLAREMORE, OK -- The birth of a new baby is always an exciting and special moment, but a deployment to Iraq meant a Marine from Claremore wouldn't be there to welcome his new son to the world.

So, the new Dad did the next best thing, with technology helping to pull off the long distance delivery.

"Every time I look at him, I see Kevin, which is wonderful because now I have a piece of Kevin with me until he gets home," said new mom, Angela Ford.

Angela and Kevin Ford have been looking forward to the birth of their new bundle of joy, but Kevin is in Iraq and couldn't be home for the delivery.

"At first we thought there was a chance he was going to be able to come back, and then when we found out he wasn't, he was devastated," said Ford.

So the couple did the next best thing. The Marine lined up a video conference with the help of Freedom Calls Foundation.

"So I called them and they just set it up, they called the hospital. They did everything," said Ford.

Claremore Regional Hospital set up a webcam in the delivery room, with Kevin watching on a Freedom Calls camera in Iraq.

"It was really, it was just really special because he was there telling me I was doing a good job, the whole way, the whole way. And he got to see everything," said Ford.

Just after Landon was born, nurses at the hospital took the webcam and put it on a rolling cart. Not only was the new proud dad able to see the delivery, he was also able to see the cord being cut, Landon's first bath and all the special moments when a child is born.

So, when Landon James Ford came into the world at 8 pounds, one ounce and 20 inches long, his daddy was watching and sharing in the special moment, thanks to technology.

"It was like he was there. It meant the world," said Ford.

Kevin Ford is expected to return from Iraq sometime this spring. The Freedom Calls Foundation is a nonprofit group that relies on corporate and individual donations.

Learn more about Freedom Calls Foundation.