The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others. – Albert Schweitzer, theologist
For one sheriff’s deputy, it was all in a day’s work. But for the family, it was a life-saving, miraculous event. One that Sgt. Jeremy Barbin is being honored for. He works for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office in Alabama. Barbin was awarded the Lifesaving Medal at the police department’s academy graduation ceremony. After all, he saved a newborn’s life.
Barbin was down the street at a crime scene, when he saw a man frantically waving at him. Jeremy Foster ran up to Barbin and asked for help. He said that his girlfriend was in labor and they could already see the baby’s head.
Body cam footage shows Barbin running into the house, and a woman on the ground. “As I opened the door, I see a young lady lying on the ground and another middle-aged lady, saying ‘Help me, help me,’ ” he said.
Sgt. Jeremy Bardin greets Jakayla Parker and her daughter at his award ceremony. Photo courtesy of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
Barbin was at a crime scene on June 28th when a man, Jeremy Foster, ran up asking for help. Foster said his pregnant girlfriend was in labor at their home. The baby’s head was already visible.“(I was just trying) to get help as soon as possible. I’d seen the road was blocked off. I knew the paramedics wouldn’t get through in time,” Foster said.
“When he ran up to me and said what he said, it was kind of shocking. I’d never been in that situation before, but it was an urgent situation that we needed to address right away,” Barbin said. “I thought I was going to have her at the hospital. I was ready too, but she made her entrance at home,” Jakayla Parker said.
Body cam footage showed Barbin follow Foster into the home, where Parker was in active labor. “I got to the feet and tried to remove the baby as gingerly as possible. Of course, there was a minor issue of the umbilical cord wrapped around the neck. Once that was removed and I could tell the baby was breathing, the heart was beating, that was a huge sigh of relief for me,” Barbin said.
Just to see her breathing and start crying, the smile on her face, well the smile on all of our faces to be honest, it was just a miracle,” Foster said.
The baby girl that Sgt. Bardin saved sleeps at his award ceremony. Photo courtesy of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
Barbin stayed with the family until paramedics arrived. “I don’t know the paramedic’s name but I wish I did. He came in and he was cool as a cucumber. He has his little kit with some snips and a razor blade. He sat down next to me and didn’t make a sound. He was awesome. I was looking at him in amazement. He’d obviously done it before,” Barbin said.
“I got home that day, and I respond to a lot of violent calls, I was kind of on cloud nine. It is good to see a life brought into the world versus the opposite. I had a very hectic day that day but I was kind of on cloud nine when I got home. It was a very good feeling,” Barbin said. The baby is healthy and doing well after her shock entrance into the world. “I am so grateful,” Parker said. “It wasn’t nobody but God. If [Barbin] wasn’t there, we would’ve been messed up.”
