By TIM ZVONCHECK ‘19
This past summer on August 2nd, Mr. Christian Sanders ‘10 and his wife were blessed with the birth of their daughter, Free Sanders. It all started when Mr. Sanders had to leave the Louisville mission trip, only to find out that Amber, Free Sander’s mother, was in false labor. “But as one day you may come to learn children are born when it’s convenient for them not for anyone else,” Christian Sanders stated, and rightfully so.
When Amber got home from work, she said she was having contractions and was ready to have the baby. As they got ready to leave for the hospital, her water broke. They left the house, with her doula following close behind. However, it soon became clear that the hospital was too far and a Sunoco gas station would become her place of birth. The family pulled in the parking lot and asked for help from a nearby police officer, who called an ambulance. Minutes later, Amber began to give birth to her daughter in the seat of their car, with the help of Christian and India Rouge, the doula. Christian said, “In the moment of actual delivery I was fearless.”
Free Sanders was born on August 2nd, 2017 at 10:05 PM, while the ambulance arrived at 10:10. “After she was born breathing and eating is when my nerves hit me and I couldn’t stop shaking,” Mr. Sanders said regarding what was going through his mind. It would of course be natural to realize your nerves at this point, knowing that you just assisted your wife in the delivery of your baby. “I thank God for my family and I thank all of you for your prayers and well wishes,” Christian said to summarize the experience.
