Baby Comes Into World in The Brooklyn Hospital Center’s Driveway

For little Sarah Wiggins and her family, Friday, July 13 was a very lucky day. Sarah decided to arrive quickly, so quickly that she was delivered by Luis Valdez, MD, in her parents’ car in The Brooklyn Hospital Center (TBHC) driveway.

“The doctors, nurses, technicians and security performed exactly as they are trained to,” says Sylvie De Souza, MD, Chair of Emergency Medicine. “This is a perfect example of a community hospital doing its job in the right place at the right time.”

Early Friday morning in her Highland Park home, Erica Wiggins thought she might be in labor, but wasn’t entirely sure. She told her husband, Sulimon, that they should wait to go to the hospital until after she took a shower. As the contractions grew stronger and closer, the couple realized that shower wasn’t going to happen and they better all hustle into the car — including their two-year-old son. “There was no time to make arrangements for him!” says Erica.

On the way to TBHC, Sulimon assured their toddler that Mommy was alright and about to have the baby. As they got closer to their destination, the couple knew that the baby was coming soon. Sulimon pulled into the hospital’s Emergency Room driveway and shouted for help. Within moments, TBHC’s emergency medicine team ran outside and Dr. Valdez delivered the baby in the car, as was making her appearance right then and there.

“My first baby was pretty fast but this was crazy,” says Erica. “We are so happy we at least made it to the hospital entrance!” Both mother and baby are thriving. Dad and big brother are catching their breath, too! And TBHC is thrilled to have been there for the family when they needed us most.

Please visit TBHC’s ambulatory care center/ or call 833-TBHC-NOW for more information about prenatal care. For more information about maternity care or to schedule a tour of the labor and delivery suite, call 718-250-8440 or take a virtual tour here.