Chapter 3

A baby?

More specifically a baby boy was in the bag I put the flashlight down and pulled the baby out of the bag he gurgled but wasn't moving I tried to listen for a heartbeat but the sound of the rain on my umbrella was making that difficult. I checked to see if he was breathing when Beast growled I turned around to see a woman and man walking towards me.

"Oh my god is that a baby?" the woman gasped.

I nodded and asked if she could hold my umbrella so I could get a better look at him. She grabbed it and gave me her scarf since he had no clothes on, I wrapped him in it I had to be calm. I could tell he was having trouble breathing, and his color was almost a blueish purple. I pulled out my phone and called 911 told them my name and what I had found and asked if they could walk me through doing CPR that the baby looked like he wasn't breathing and wasn't moving since I had found him.

The dispatchers name was Connie she told me if I had ever performed CPR before I said only on adults and she said that was good and to follow her instructions the gentleman got close took my phone so I'd have my hands free while Beast growled I told him to hush and he obeyed.

I worked on the baby and followed her instructions she asked me to open his mouth to make sure nothing was stopping his airway I did and she walked me through each step I willed the baby to breath I prayed that he would respond the rain was getting worse but I didn't care I needed to bring this little angel back to life.

He finally gasped and let out a small cry and started to shake. I heard a cheer and looked up we had gathered a crowd and Beast made sure no one got to close. Someone gave me a towel which I took and wrapped him in it Connie the dispatcher said an ambulance was on its way and to try to get the baby out of the rain I gave her Houston's beach house address and she told me to get going and ended the call. I put the phone in my pocket I asked the woman holding my umbrella if she could go ahead and open the door I handed her the key and looked down at Beast and told him to take her to the house he grabbed his leash and looked at the woman I said he would behave and she gave her husband the umbrella and followed Beast to the house. The baby was trying to cry but it sound so weak. I tried to calm him by rocking and talking to the little guy he was cold I opened up the slicker and put him inside the jacket he laid flat against my chest and started to settle having found the warmth he needed.

We got to the house Carol was awake and I explained what had happen she brought me inside and I asked if the couple could direct the ambulance towards the house once it got there. She took the baby to check him out and he started to cry again I took off the slicker and went to grab the afghan that was on the couch. Once Carol was done I wrapped the baby again, she started to ask a million questions which I had no answers I repeated to her again what had happened and I had performed CPR and brought the little guy back to life. Beast never left the baby's side whimpering and looking at us to do something about the crying. I picked him up again and pulled him close and he started to settle down again. "Should I add baby whisperer to your resume Ms. Parson's?" Carol joked as she called the hospital and asked them to be on standby, she was bringing in a newborn that had been found in a trash can by the beach.

Before I got to answer her, Beast ran to the door and growled the paramedics had arrived yelled out they were at the door and if they could come in. I called Beast back to me and let them in.

They took the baby from me and I told them the story and police had arrive with them and I asked the couple if they could show them the trash can where the baby was placed. The paramedics noticed he was too quiet he was barely breathing, and they needed to get him to the hospital. I asked if I could come not wanting to let the little guy go without knowing he was going to be okay. They said yes, I went to Beast he looked at the paramedics taking the baby and started to growl I got on my knees and talked to him, "Beast you did a good thing boy they are going to take care of the baby okay? I need you to be good we are going to the hospital I'll be back when I can." I scratched his head and he let out a bark. I told Carol what I was doing she said she'd follow in her car and asked the paramedics to go to Coastal Bay Center where she had called and where awaiting our arrival.

When I got to the back of the ambulance the baby was hooked up to monitors, and IV and a warming blanket was put over him he started to fuss again and the paramedic name Andrew said that was good he was responding but when he let out a loud cry and wouldn't stop he looked at me I asked if I could pick him up and he nodded asking if it was okay with all the monitors and the IV he said just to be careful I was and put him against my chest again and wrapped him with the warming blanket he started to settle and then I felt wetness Andrew chuckled and said the baby was getting fluids and well that was inevitable. He handed me one of his spare LAFD shirts and I thanked him.

"Hey little fellow next time some warning would be nice okay?"

I put the baby down as he started to quiet down. Andrew started to check on him and said he'd close his eyes so I could change my shirt, I thanked him and pulled of the wet shirt and pulled on the shirt he had given me it was a little big but better than being wet.

I peek over his shoulder and saw Andrew was giving him oxygen I asked if he was alright he said he was worried about his body temperature it was too low and even with the warming blanket he still wasn't responding as quickly as he wanted. Before i got to ask anything else we arrived at the hospital and the awaiting ER team Carol had called ahead for.

Andrew started calling out the baby's vitals and what information he didn't know I called out where he was found, his condition when he was found I was waiting for them to escort me out but they thought i was Andrew's partner, i looked to see them examining the baby and checking his breathing someone yelled that it was shallow and he needed to get to the NICU asap to be put in the incubator since it looked like he was premature and time was of the essences.

They started to wheel him out and take him upstairs to the NICU Andrew and I followed with Carol running to catch up and asking for the baby's status when we got to the NICU doors me and Andrew where stopped I looked at Carol she asked if I could come and the nurse agreed.

Andrew yelled out to me, "Hey let me know what happens with little guy okay." I nodded and kept up with the rest of the team Carol went to speak with the Pediatric Doctor in charge and I went to see them putting him in the incubator the nurse turned to me and asked who I was. I explained how Beast and I had found the baby in the trash can how he wasn't moving when I had taken him out of the trash bag, then giving him CPR and hearing him cry out and holding him close to me to keep him warm. I didn't realize I had started to cry while recounting what had happened and the nurse said I could stay but to make sure I didn't get in the way.

Carol came to me and took me in her arms, "you did good sis they are going to run some test it's going to take some time but with each minute it looks like he's improving." I nodded, "how could someone do this Carol he's just a baby why would anyone want to harm him he's innocent and I just can't…" I burst into tears and she held me and tried to calm me down. The Pediatric Doctor came over and asked if I was the mother I nodded no, and he was puzzled and looked at Carol. She explained what had happened and he put his hand on my shoulder and said I had saved that baby's life. He could have suffocated in the bag or died from the weather elements.

The charge nurse came over and asked my relation to the child and Carol said, "guardian angel she and the hound from hell saved that baby's life."

Carol recounted the story again the Charge Nurse sat me down and grabbed a blanket to put around me. "You did a brave thing miss if you hadn't been there this would have been a tragedy just another statistic, we don't know the whole story but this could have ended up so much worse. I'm happy you were there to save him. Can I ask you to do me a favor?"

I looked at her, "for him sure what do you need?"

"Well we usually named babies like this as Baby Boy Doe but since he seems to be special, I wonder if you would like to name him."

I looked at her and said, "I couldn't it's not my place." She shook her head, "I saw you downstairs when they brought him in and spoke to Andrew he said you were with him making sure he was breathing and keeping him warm talking to him and comforting him I think it's only appropriate that you name him. So, what do you say?"

I went to look at him in the incubator he was starting to move more, and I could see his color changing to a pink instead of the blue I had seen earlier.

I put my hand on the box and whispered, "what do you think little man do you want me to name you?" he moved towards my voice and let out a small cry. Carol was next to me, "I think he just gave you your answer." The nurse waited for my answer.

I smiled and let her know what I had decided, "Jacob William after the two fathers in my life."