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A special delivery
Published Wednesday, November 26, 2008
It will be a special Thanksgiving for a Fergus Falls couple whose son was born on the front seat of their pick-up truck earlier this month.
Sara Hage was at work at Janet Swenson State Farm when she first felt the contractions. It was around noon on Nov. 3, and at 35 weeks, Hage had no idea she’d deliver her child herself in less than four hours.
“I just thought, ‘Oh, it’s more back pain,’” Hage said from her home this week. She’d experienced similar pains in the past, she said, and a non-stress test in late October found they weren’t contractions.
“I was 35 weeks along so I didn’t think I was going into labor — until it got worse.”
Unsure of what to do, Hage called her husband, Darren, an information technology specialist at MSCTC-Fergus Falls. Hage also contacted staff with MeritCare Hospital in Fargo, where she’d been seeing a doctor throughout her pregnancy.
“I just need something for my pain,” she told them.
But as the afternoon wore on, Hage realized she was experiencing more than back pain. So did Darren Hage, who arrived at his wife’s workplace to bring her to the hospital.
“When I walked into State Farm, she was leaned up against the wall and hunched over,” he said.
It was about 2:45 p.m. when the Hages loaded into their pick-up truck — a vehicle they’d packed with bags and a car seat only the night before. Darren Hage was on the phone with MeritCare staff by the time they hit Interstate 94.
“When I called they thought she’d make it,” he said. “Everything we’d heard and read said labor takes hours.”
But at Barnesville, Hage’s water broke.
“We’d had Lamaze, so I knew to breathe,” she said.
“That was my concern — that she was breathing right,” Darren said.
The couple made it all the way to Broadway before the baby came. With one hand on the passenger door and another propped on the front seat’s center console, Hage gave birth to a son only blocks from the hospital.
“I heard the baby cry right in front of Billiards on Broadway,” said Darren, who Sara says had worried about passing out the delivery room.
The baby rested on the seat between Hage’s legs until the family reached the hospital, where staff with MeritCare’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit were waiting.
“They did not know when I got there he’d already been born,” Hage said.
And she didn’t know the gender of her child.
“They said, ‘Is it a boy or a girl?’ and I said, ‘I don’t know. I haven’t looked.’”
Weighing in at 5 pounds, 10 ounces, Roric Hage is a healthy baby boy whose parents say they feel blessed this holiday season. The situation was scary at the time, Darren said, but looking back, it’s pretty cool.
Sara Hage recalls comments from family and friends in the days leading up to Roric’s birth.
“Well, I hope this doesn’t put you into labor,” her sister, Lori Thorsen, joked over a rich pasta supper Nov. 2.
Then there was the question of maternity leave.
“Everyone kept saying, ‘How long are you going to keep working?’” Hage remembers.
Her reply?
“Oh, right up until I have the baby.”
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by gramma2007 (anonymous) on November 26, 2008 at 12:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Congrats Hage Family! What a grand entrance he made! HAPPY THANKSGIVING
Posted by Goodgal (anonymous) on November 26, 2008 at 1:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What a lovely story to tell little Roric someday. Many blessings & congrads.
Posted by Apples (anonymous) on November 26, 2008 at 1:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Now that is a great story!
Posted by fergusfallsmom (anonymous) on November 26, 2008 at 1:40 p.m.
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Posted by classof76 (anonymous) on November 26, 2008 at 2:38 p.m.
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Posted by Josephine (anonymous) on November 26, 2008 at 3:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What a wonderful blessing for this Thanksgiving Season.
Posted by Lala (anonymous) on November 26, 2008 at 3:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Congrats Sara and Darren!!! Glad to hear the baby is healthy!
Posted by bohica15 (anonymous) on November 26, 2008 at 5:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So many thoughts on why not use our wonderful medical facilities here in Fergus Falls.
Thankfully there were no complications or this article would be telling us a tragic story.
Posted by MarcNSuzy (anonymous) on November 26, 2008 at 6:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Congrats to both of you. My question to fergusfallsmom and classof76...Why were your comments deleted by the site staff? How could this article in any way make you post something obviously negative that had to be removed.
Posted by fergusfallsmom (anonymous) on November 26, 2008 at 6:38 p.m.
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Posted by fergusfallsmom (anonymous) on November 26, 2008 at 7 p.m.
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Posted by momof3 (anonymous) on November 26, 2008 at 7:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Once again people on here are commenting on an article and they have no clue on the circumstances surrounding this event. People are wondering why she didn't use LRH, really does it matter? What matters is that everything turned out good for mom and baby. Don't get negative people! If you can't be nice, maybe just keep it to yourself. This was suppose to be a fun artice not a debate on what happened or didn't. Let the family enjoy their new blessing without people that have no clue what the situation is, second guessing them! Congrats Darren and Sara
Posted by tippy98c (anonymous) on November 26, 2008 at 8:19 p.m.
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Posted by fergusfallsmom (anonymous) on November 26, 2008 at 8:31 p.m.
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Posted by clrkrr (anonymous) on November 26, 2008 at 9:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, first off, congrats to Sara and Darren. You are a wonderful insurance agent to us and very considerate.
Second, for the people who commented on the whole Lake Region thing...I for one am pregnant and see a doctor in Wahpeton. I would never go to LRH unless it was an emergecy. And considering that Sara had already contacted her doctor and she had her husband with, I see no worry with it unless the doctors would have been concerned. So like the other post had said...if you don't know the whole story let it alone. So I hope they have a wonderful Thanksgiving with their new bundle of joy!
Posted by USA1 (anonymous) on November 26, 2008 at 9:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!!! NOW THATS POSITIVE!!!
Posted by E_85 (anonymous) on November 29, 2008 at 2:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
But you couldnt you be setting yourself up for something to go bad, by driving an hour to deliever? Not to mention the weather issues.
Posted by fergusfallsmom (anonymous) on November 29, 2008 at 10:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't feel my comments were negative. Just do not feel this article is super great because they were risky. That is all.
Posted by happymom (anonymous) on December 8, 2008 at 3:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I also went to Fargo to Innovis to deliver, and will do the same with any other children that I have! I feel that the risk involved in driving is well worth it. And the little bit of driving is the same as it would be if we lived in a more rural area like where I grew up. Go where you're comfortable. As for LRHC-they couldn't even tell me I was pregnant! Were going to give me something to bring on my period. Doctors there wouldn't do simple tests that could have saved a friend of mine hours of anguish over her son's ear condition-she had to go elsewhere. Sad.
Posted by dhage52 (anonymous) on December 8, 2008 at 3:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks to all for the wonderful comments. Sara, Darren, and Roric are doing well. For those who expressed their concerns negative or not; we all do things a bit different and/or decide things according to how we feel. We have Meritcare for our provider. Nothing against LRH. They do a fine job. Just a decision we have made. It's all a matter of opinions. Thanks again. We are so proud to have Roric in our lives.
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