Passengers Help Deliver Premature Baby On Flight To Hawaii

May 4, 2021

A pregnant woman went into labor on a flight to Hawaii.

Luckily, there were three neonatal intensive care nurses and a doctor onboard.

woman has baby on flight to hawaii
Credit: hawaiipacifichealth.org

Lavinia "Lavi" Mounga of Orem, Utah, was traveling from Salt Lake City to Hawaii on April 28 for a family vacation when she gave birth to her son, Raymond, at just 29 weeks gestation.

Mounga said she had no idea she was even pregnant.

She said she felt the "weirdest pain" so she went to the bathroom and passed out, only to wake up to see a baby in her arms.

woman has baby on flight to hawaii
Credit: hawaiipacifichealth.org

Dr. Dale Glenn, a Hawaii Pacific Health family medicine physician, and neonatal intensive care unit nurses from North Kansas City Hospital Lani Bamfield, Amanda Beeding and Mimi Ho were also on the flight.

"About halfway through the flight, there was an emergency call, and I've experienced this before and usually they're pretty clear asking if there is a doctor on board," Glenn said in a Hawaii Pacific Health press release. "This call was not like this and it was fairly urgent."

With no special equipment for the preemie, the group had to get creative. They used shoelaces to cut and tie the umbilical cord and used a smartwatch to measure the baby's heart rate.

Medical crews were waiting at the airport in Honolulu to help get the mom and baby to Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children.

 

The three nurses from the flight were able to visit Mounga and the baby on Friday and said it was an emotional reunion.

"We all just teared up. She called us family and said we're all his aunties, and it was so great to see them," Ho said.

"I didn't have to do it alone and I had so much support and everyone was just so willing to offer up everything that they had," Mounga said. "So much kindness in the world still, even with all the craziness that's going on."

Watch the video below.


Click Here For The Most Popular On Sunny Skyz

feel good videoCouple Rescues Prairie Dog From Their Dog's Mouth, Then Decides To Adopt It

feel good storiesOhio Man Makes Waves With His Fully Functioning Hot Dog Boat

feel good storiesWhy Hope Is The Key To A Meaningful Life, Backed By New Research

feel good storiesThese Are The Movie Scenes People Say Are Absolutely Flawless

feel good storiesJudge Waives Parking Fines So Dad Can Keep Supporting Son’s Space Dreams

feel good storiesHungry Elephant Casually Walks Into Grocery Store For Snacks In Thailand

feel good videoDog Saves His Best Friend's Life In Incredible Moment Caught On Video

feel good videoWoman Tries To Help Bird, Then This Happened... And We Can't Stop Laughing

feel good videoNewborn Baby Has Sweet Conversation With Dad While Lying On Mom’s Face

feel good videoSassy Pig Throws Hilarious Tantrum, Slams Door And Gives Mom Silent Treatment

feel good videoConcerned Momma Moose Wanders Into Alaska Firehouse

Chris Filippou 12:17 PM (3 minutes ago) to me