Mother reunites with firefighter who delivered her son on 9/11
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
In Maine, Maddie Marks reconnected with Robert Shay Jr., the firefighter who delivered her son on the side of a highway during a 9/11 memorial service in 2002.
Marks went into labour while attending a first anniversary remembrance ceremony for the September 11 attacks. As she and her husband rushed to the hospital, they stopped on the roadside and called for help when contractions became too strong.
Shay, then a firefighter and emergency medical technician, arrived quickly and assisted Marks in delivering her son, Robert, in the front seat of the car before paramedics arrived. The two lost contact after the event, continuing to live in nearby communities for decades. Mutual friends helped Marks and Shay reconnect in September 2026, allowing Marks to personally thank Shay for his help during the unexpected birth.
Shay described responding to field deliveries as among the most rewarding experiences in his career. The reunion brought back memories of a day that began with national remembrance and became a personal moment for Marks’ family, and her son Robert, now 24, has grown up hearing about the unusual circumstances of his birth.
