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Theodore Loki Russell-Seely made a surprise entrance into the world on August 8, 2024, catching his parents off guard both with his unexpected arrival and his early birth, weighing just one pound 14 ounces, 14 “ long at around 26 weeks gestation.

Emmali Russell did not know that she was pregnant and recalled what happened that night. She said she was feeling pain similar to menstrual cramps as she got up for her work shift that starts at midnight. She went to the bathroom and after one large contraction, she felt her son and she helped him out the rest of the way. Emmali’s fiancé Josh Seely called 911 which brought firefighters and emergency medical personnel to their home. 911 Dispatcher Brandy Brown helped the frantic parents as she talked them through finding clean string to tie the umbilical cord and gave them other instructions until help arrived. After arriving, Paramedic Kellie Burns described the newborn as so small that he fit perfectly in her hand.

After Emmali’s scary experience, she wanted to reach out and thank the emergency personnel that came to help her and her family that night. Looking at her son at the reunion she said, “We had to come see everybody that saved your life baby boy!”

“I can’t even imagine (a job) where you help someone and you never get to know how things are going,” said Emmali, “You guys are special people. Without you guys, I don’t know where we would be!”

A healthy and still growing six-pound baby “Theo” was passed around and held by those who had a part in the emergency call. Theo spent 77 days in the neonatal intensive care unit at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita and is now home having been declared healthy with no problems associated with his premature birth.

Emergency personnel that helped with the call were Dispatcher Brandy Brown with Hutchinson-Reno Co Emergency Communications, Bobbi Montford, Division Chief with Reno Co. EMS and was the supervisor on duty at the scene, Emma Singleton, Paramedic student during the call, and Kellie Burns, Reno Co. EMS Paramedic. Not able to attend the meet and greet were EMT Ashley Gamble and members of the Hutchinson Fire Department Captain Craig Walle, Engineer Luke Fawcett and Firefighter Dayln Anderson from Station #1.

As she hugged Emmali and Theo, Emma Singleton said, “Thank you for bringing us together.” Gifts brought by the emergency personnel and given to the family were two boxes of diapers, baby wipes, two outfits, a stuffed Pooh bear and the letter “T” for everyone to autograph.

Wanting to put together a reunion of all the emergency personnel that helped her when she gave birth to her son at home, Emmali reached out with a post on Facebook. Sabrina Henry, Dispatch Supervisor with Hutchinson-Reno Co Emergency Communications, saw Emmali’s post and set up the meet and greet at the Hutchinson Fire Department Command Training Center, 3201 E. 4th Avenue Monday afternoon, Nov. 18, 2024.

Emergency personnel that helped with the call were Dispatcher Brandy Brown with Hutchinson-Reno Co Emergency Communications, left, Bobbi Montford, Division Chief with Reno Co. EMS and was the supervisor on duty at the scene, Emmali and her son Theo, center, Emma Singleton, Paramedic student during the call, and Kellie Burns, Reno Co. EMS Paramedic. Photos by Sandra J. Milburn/Reno County