Acts of Kindness
Newborn stops breathing while parents driving in car then dad spots officer in next lane
The officer, just a few lanes over, heard a car horn frantically beeping then saw a man frantically waving at her from his car.
Cedric Jackson
05.11.21

Being pregnant for nine months and then finally becoming parents is one of the most joyous events in life. But no matter how many years someone’s spent babysitting other kids or playing with nieces and nephews, it’s completely different when it’s their child. Especially as first-time parents, it’s hard not to worry about everything.

Welcome to the world

Newborn babies depend on their parents for everything, including protection. As small, helpless humans, it’s up to moms and dads to provide food, clothing, a safe home, healthcare, and more. But even with all that, scary situations can arise.

Unsplash/Jill Sauve
Source:
Unsplash/Jill Sauve

Dealing with a fussy baby

All babies go through bouts of fussiness. Usually, it’s because they’re hungry, tired, sick, or they have a dirty diaper. Olivia, a beautiful new baby girl, was having one of those days. Since nothing seemed to help calm her down, the parents decided to take her to the hospital… just in case.

YouTube Screenshot/WPXI
Source:
YouTube Screenshot/WPXI

Nothing to panic about

After packing Olivia up in the car, the parents started to drive to the hospital. Although she was still fussy, the situation hadn’t escalated. But things would soon change.

Unsplash/Michael Krahn
Source:
Unsplash/Michael Krahn

The situation becomes scary

All of the sudden, Olivia’s parents noticed that something was wrong. The worst thing that any new mom or dad could experience was happening before their eyes. Their precious baby had stopped breathing.

Unsplash/Fa Barboza
Source:
Unsplash/Fa Barboza

An unexpected angel

Olivia’s mom kept saying, “She’s not breathing, she’s not breathing … I have to get her out of the car seat.” Stopped at a red light, that’s when the dad saw a police car in the next lane. He quickly made his way to her car, asking for help.

YouTube Screenshot/WPXI
Source:
YouTube Screenshot/WPXI

Jumping into action

After telling Officer Kristin Mitrisin what was going on, she told the dad to pull his car into an empty lot. Once parked, the officer took the baby from him. At the same time, a worried bystander came over to help.

YouTube Screenshot/WPXI
Source:
YouTube Screenshot/WPXI

She started chest compressions

Immediately, Officer Mitrisin began performing chest compressions on Olivia. Come to find out, the helpful bystander was a correction officer. So, Mitrisin asked them to get the AED machine from the back of her patrol car.

YouTube Screenshot/WPXI
Source:
YouTube Screenshot/WPXI

Things didn’t look good

The father explained that he and his wife were terrified. In his words, “Obviously, it’s very scary to have your child in the back of a truck with AEDs on her.” As Olivia began to turn blue, her mom and dad felt even more frightened.

YouTube Screenshot/WPXI
Source:
YouTube Screenshot/WPXI

Their lucky day

Not only is Officer Mitrisin highly qualified and trained but she’s also a mom of two boys. So, this situation hit close to home. Throughout the ordeal, she remained calm and focused, determined Olivia wasn’t going to die.

YouTube Screenshot/WPXI
Source:
YouTube Screenshot/WPXI

Heroes all around

Paramedics arrived and whisked Olivia to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Doctors discovered that she had a heart condition, which caused her to stop breathing. Although she’ll need to have surgery to correct the problem, she got a second chance at life thanks to her dad, mom, Officer, Mitrisin, and the bystander all pitching in to help.

YouTube Screenshot/WPXI
Source:
YouTube Screenshot/WPXI

When everything was over, Officer Mitrisin was recognized for her courageous efforts to save Olivia. Her parents also reached out to her with the dad saying, “She saved my baby’s life so I’m very thankful. Words can’t even explain how I feel and how thankful I am.”

To learn more about this touching story, click on the video below.

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Source: People, WPXI

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