Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Big sister Adeline (22 months), Beth Warner, Samuel Eli Warner and Samuel Warner, who is deployed overseas but attending via Skype, pose for a family picture Thursday at the Washakie Medical Center in Worland.
WORLAND – Thanks to modern technology, an enlightened doctor and a very accommodating hospital staff, Samuel Warner, deployed overseas with the Navy Reserves, was able to attend the birth of his son Samuel Eli Warner Wednesday at 10:23 a.m.
Both Washakie Medical Center in Worland and Dr. Rodni Cruz allowed Samuel to attend his wife, Beth's C-section via Skype on a tablet. Beth's mother, Sandy Dittmer who is from Thermopolis, held the tablet so that Samuel could talk to and support Beth and see the baby being born. "He was able to be in the room right by my head," Beth Warner said. "Even though he was overseas he was still able to be a part of our son's birth."
The couple had decided that they would have Samuel attend the birth if he was deployed in a place that had Internet. "With any of my other deployments, this would not have been able to happen, "Samuel Warner said via Skype Thursday.
The hospital staff and doctor would also have to be on board as some hospitals are resistant. "Dr. Cruz was a huge advocate," Beth said.
Beth and Samuel don't know when they will be seeing each other in person but, thanks to Skype are able to see and speak to each other and share important events in their lives. "I'm anxiously awaiting his return," Beth said. "I can't wait to come home," Samuel said. The couples 22 month-old daughter, Adeline expressed her feelings by having her stuffed puppy give daddy a big kiss on the tablet.
Samuel Eli Warner was born at 10:32 a.m. He weighed 9 pounds 6 ounces at birth and is 21 inches long.
