For the rest of their lives, Stephanie Lane, Tyler Merullo, Eric Zawacki, and Andrew, Lauren, and Emily Rainville will be inextricably linked.
That’s because Lane, a police sergeant, Merullo, a paramedic, and Zawacki, a police captain, were on hand when Emily Rainville was born — on the side of the road.
On Dec. 18, at 7:36 a.m. police received a call reporting a woman in labor on Lowell Street near Karelitz Road. Dispatcher James Dullea had received many similar calls during his time with the department, but Dec. 18 was different.
Dullea dispatched officer Michael Eon along with Atlantic Ambulance and the Peabody Fire Department. Lane and Zawacki also responded. The vehicle in question, the one with the Rainvilles inside, was at 220 Lowell St. Immediately, responders could tell this was not a routine call for a woman having contractions, but a woman in “active labor,” the department wrote in a Facebook post.
Less than five minutes later, Emily Jean Rainville was born in the front seat of the car, with her father, Andrew declaring, “It’s a girl!”
But, something was wrong. Emily Rainville had begun turning blue. EMTs and Peabody firefighters arrived at the scene, and Merullo sprang into action, getting Lauren and Emily Rainville in an ambulance en route to Salem Hospital.
“Although there were several nerve-wracking and frightening moments for all involved, Emily, her brave, rock-star mother Lauren, and strong father Andrew were all transported to Salem Hospital safely,” the department wrote.
Last week, Lane, Merullo, and Zawacki reunited with Emily, Lauren, and Andrew Rainville, under much better circumstances.
