A Chula Vista mother says she couldn’t have had a better person with her when she gave birth to a baby on the side of the freeway over the weekend.
Christina Jenkins’ sister Clarissa Coladilla was in the backseat of the car when her husband pulled over on the 15 Northbound just past the Adams Avenue exit. Coladilla is a nurse who, in her 13 years old experience, spent nine specializing in labor and delivery.
“You never think you’re going to deliver your own family member’s baby, let alone in a car,” said Coladilla.
It was 5 A.M., so it was very dark in Jenkins’ husband’s car when she knew they weren’t going to make it to the hospital.
“I was screaming it hurts. It’s coming! He’s there. To the point where [my husband and sister] over there are like ‘You sound like the incredible Hulk,’” said Jenkins to NBC 7.
Her husband was on the phone with a 911 dispatcher, but the baby couldn’t wait any longer. With the help of Coladilla, the Jenkins’ welcomed their third child into the world. We asked Jenkins what it meant to have her sister save the day.
“It means the world to me. I talk about this at the hospital crying all the time because, you know, what would I do without her?” she replied. “We’ve always been close, but to know she was there when I seriously needed someone, and willing to do anything. That’s amazing.”
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Coladilla said when the adrenaline subsided, all three of them cried.
“I just broke down. You could see everyone. We just started tearing,” she said.
Little Grant Jenkins Jimenez is a healthy baby boy.
“Ate” in Tagalog means older sister. Coladilla says her other nephew and niece call her “Ate Mom.” It appears there could be no better endearing title for her in this situation.
