In 2002, a Maine mother went into labor during a 9/11 memorial; 24 years later, she reunited with the firefighter who delivered her son
A Maine mother who went into labour during a September 11 memorial service in 2002 has reunited with the firefighter who helped deliver her son on the side of a highway nearly a quarter of a century ago. Maddie Marks was attending a first anniversary 9/11 remembrance ceremony in Maine when she suddenly went into labour. As her husband drove her towards the hospital, her contractions became so strong and frequent that they had to pull over on the roadside and call for emergency help. Robert Shay Jr., then an active firefighter and emergency medical technician with the local fire department, responded to the call. He arrived within minutes and helped Marks deliver her son in the front seat of the vehicle before paramedics took the mother and newborn to a regional medical centre. According to a broadcast report by television station WABI, the two had not seen each other since that morning in September 2002. Marks and Shay finally reunited in September 2026 after decades of living in nearby communities without meeting again.
Sudden labour interrupted memorial service attendance
The unusual birth took place on September 11, 2002, as communities across the United States gathered to mark one year since the 2001 terrorist attacks. Marks, who was pregnant with her son, had attended a morning memorial event honouring fallen first responders and victims. Soon after the service began, Marks started experiencing strong labour pains. Although the baby was expected around that time, the sudden increase in her contractions showed that the delivery was close. Realising they would not reach the hospital in time, her husband pulled the vehicle onto the roadside and called emergency services. Dispatchers sent the call to the nearest fire station, where Shay and his engine crew were on duty. Shay reached the roadside location shortly before the baby was born. Using emergency obstetric equipment from his response kit, he helped deliver the baby without complications. The infant, who was named Robert in part after the firefighter who helped deliver him, was born healthy. Emergency medical personnel arrived soon afterwards to check the mother and baby before taking them to hospital.
Unexpected reunion after decades apart
Despite the unusual circumstances of the birth, Marks and Shay lost contact in the weeks after the incident as they returned to their normal lives. Shay later retired from the fire department after decades of public service, while Marks raised her family in Maine. The two reconnected after mutual acquaintances helped them get back in touch ahead of the anniversary. The reunion gave Marks a chance to thank the retired firefighter in person for helping her during a difficult and unexpected moment. Speaking to WABI about the emergency call, Shay said field deliveries remain among the most intense but rewarding calls that firefighters and emergency medical technicians can receive during their careers. For Marks, meeting Shay again brought back memories of a day that began with a solemn national remembrance but became a deeply personal moment for her family.
First responders and unexpected emergencies
Emergency childbirths outside hospitals make up only a small part of emergency medical calls in Maine, but they require first responders to act quickly when reaching a hospital is no longer possible. Fire departments across New England train personnel to handle emergency births as part of standard paramedic and emergency medical technician training. While most labour calls involve taking expectant mothers to hospital delivery rooms, roadside births require quick decisions and immediate medical care. The reunion between Marks and Shay also shows how strong connections can form between community members and first responders during unexpected emergencies. Her son Robert, now 24, grew up hearing about his unusual birth on the side of a Maine highway on the first anniversary of 9/11. His mother’s reunion with the retired firefighter has now brought a new chapter to a story that began during a solemn moment of national remembrance.
