00:00When did you have to teach adults basic common sense?
00:02My neighbor Steve knocked on my door at 11 p.m.,
00:04completely frantic and drenched in sweat despite the cool October night.
00:07My wife's in labor and our car won't start.
00:09Can you drive us to the hospital?
00:10Please, I'm begging you.
00:11Of course, I said yes.
00:12We rushed to their house where Daniela was clearly in active labor,
00:14gripping the doorframe and breathing heavily through contractions
00:17that were coming fast and hard.
00:18How far apart are they?
00:19I asked while helping her to my car.
00:20About three minutes, Steve said, his voice shaking.
00:23This is our first baby and everything's happening so fast.
00:25The drive to regional medical center usually takes 15 minutes,
00:28but I made it in eight.
00:29Daniela had two more intense contractions in the back seat,
00:31with Steve holding her hand and trying not to panic.
00:33But when we pulled into the hospital parking garage,
00:36the security attendant stepped out of his booth
00:37and held up his hand, blocking our path.
00:39Sorry, folks.
00:40Visiting hours ended at 9 p.m. sharp.
00:41You'll need to come back tomorrow morning at 7 a.m.
00:43when we reopen to visitors.
00:45I stared at him through my windshield, certain I'd misheard.
00:47Excuse me?
00:47This woman is literally in labor.
00:49I understand your situation, but rules are rules.
00:51The maternity ward follows the same visiting policy
00:53as every other department in this facility.
00:55Daniela let out a deep groan and doubled over
00:57with another massive contraction right there in my back seat.
01:00Steve was frantically checking his phone's stopwatch.
01:02That was only two minutes, he said.
01:03They're getting closer.
01:04I rolled down my window.
01:05Are you completely insane?
01:06She's about to give birth.
01:07The attendant, whose name tag read,
01:08Gary, crossed his arms defensively.
01:10Look, lady.
01:10I don't make the hospital policies.
01:12I just enforce them.
01:13If I let one person in after hours,
01:15then everyone will want exceptions.
01:16Where does it end?
01:17Steve jumped out of the car and ran around to Gary's booth.
01:19Please, I'm begging you.
01:20The contractions are two minutes apart now.
01:22Our doctor said to come immediately when they got this close.
01:24You should have planned better and arrived during regular visiting hours.
01:26Gary replied with a straight face.
01:28Babies don't just happen overnight.
01:29You had nine months to figure out proper scheduling.
01:31I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
01:33Daniela was now gripping my headrest,
01:34breathing heavily and making sounds that clearly indicated
01:37this baby was coming whether Gary approved or not.
01:39Gary, I said, trying to stay calm.
01:40This is a medical emergency.
01:41This woman could deliver this baby in my car in the next few minutes.
01:44That's not my problem.
01:45I'm responsible for maintaining order in this parking facility.
01:47I've got clear instructions about after hours access.
01:49I honestly started wondering if he thought babies came
01:52with appointment times like oil changes.
01:53That's when Daniela screamed.
01:54Not just a contraction scream, but a
01:56this baby is coming right now scream.
01:58I'd heard enough.
01:59I put my car in drive and headed straight for the emergency entrance,
02:01driving right past Gary's booth while he shouted about
02:04unauthorized entry and threatened to call security.
02:06The actual medical staff at the emergency entrance
02:07took one look at Daniela and immediately rushed her inside on a stretcher.
02:11The nurse didn't ask about visiting hours or parking policies,
02:13but she just got Daniela the help she needed.
02:1520 minutes later, Steve came out with tears in his eyes
02:17to tell me they had a healthy baby boy.
02:19But Gary, the parking attendant, actually had the audacity to track me down in the waiting room
02:22with a citation book in his hand.
02:24Ma'am, I need to write you up for unauthorized entry into a restricted vehicle zone.
02:27You completely ignored my direct instructions.
02:29The emergency room doctor overheard this
02:31and turned to Gary with the most incredulous expression I'd ever seen.
02:34Are you seriously trying to ticket someone who just helped deliver a baby?
02:37Rules are rules, doc.
02:38I don't care what the circumstances were.
02:39I had to spend 10 minutes explaining to a grown man
02:42that emergency medical situations, especially active labor,
02:45override parking garage policies.
02:46Gary still didn't seem convinced and kept muttering about setting precedence
02:49and maintaining order.
02:50The doctor finally had to escort him out
02:52and assured me there would be no citation.
02:53Some people really do need basic common sense explained to them
02:56like they're five years old.
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