Lia Milich, left, was overcome with emotion as she met Anna Evans, the Hato Hone St John call handler who assisted Lia’s mother, Kristene Milich, right, in delivering Lia’s baby Luka in their bathroom during a 111 call. Photo: Hato Hone St John.
It was a day filled with tears, laughter, and hugs when emergency call handler Anna Evans from Hato Hone St John paid a visit to the Milich family. She was there to finally meet the newborn baby, Luka, whose delivery she had guided during a frantic 111 call. Luka Milich decided to make his entrance into the world five days early on the 30th of April, after his mother, Lia Milich, went into labor at their home in Auckland.
The night before, Milich had experienced what she thought were Braxton Hicks contractions, but she dismissed them as nothing to worry about. “I didn’t think too much of it as my first son Kylo had been a long labor and my contractions were really inconsistent and not really painful,” Milich shared. However, the next morning, while in the bathroom, she realized that she was indeed in labor. With her partner, Tuki Hanlon, packing their bags into the car, they were almost ready to leave when Milich’s waters broke.
Desperate to jump into the shower, Milich did just that before calling out to her mother who was in the lounge. Kristene Milich dialed 111 at 11:02 am on Wednesday, 30th April, and was connected to Evans at Christchurch’s St John communications center. With four years of experience under her belt, Evans knew that keeping Kristene calm and ensuring she followed instructions was crucial.
Just two minutes into the call, Kristene reported seeing Luka’s head, and the delivery process rapidly progressed. In the cramped bathroom, Milich, her mother, and partner followed Evans’ instructions diligently. “They did so well… my eyes started to tear up when I heard him (Luka) cry,” Evans recounted. Luka made his official entrance into the world at 11:06 am, just four minutes after the call began.
Evans stayed on the line until an ambulance crew arrived to transport mother and baby to Auckland City Hospital. They were assessed and discharged on the same afternoon. Overwhelmed with joy, Evans couldn’t help but shed tears of happiness. “This is the most rewarding job ever, and it’s moments like this one where I think to myself ‘this is exactly why I come and do it’,” she said.
A week later, Evans flew to Auckland for an emotional reunion with the Milich family. Together with Kristene, the three women listened back to the 111 call. “I didn’t think for one moment I’d be helping to deliver my grandson when I woke up that morning,” Kristene expressed. Both she and Milich commended Evans for her exceptional support and guidance. Evans was now proudly welcomed into Hato Hone St John’s Stork Club, a special recognition for call handlers who assist in baby deliveries over the phone.
“It’s something special knowing you have helped bring a life into this world,” Evans shared. Meeting Kristene, Lia, and Luka was a career highlight for her. Kristene, holding her beautiful grandson, expressed her surprise at how calm she sounded during the call. Evans presented Luka with a blessed greenstone toki as a gift, symbolizing the unforgettable experience.
“There’s calls that will stay in your head forever – and Luka will definitely be one of them,” Evans reflected. She planned to maintain contact with the Milich family, cherishing the bond formed through such a remarkable event.