Brave big sister, 11, delivers her new brother
New London girl honored for helping mom through labor
New London — When Maruja Solano’s contractions started on the evening of Oct. 24, she quickly realized that her baby might just be joining the world a bit sooner than expected.
Solano was home with her two young daughters at the time: 11-year-old Angie Valverde and 2-year-old Nicole. She called her husband, who was stuck in traffic on his way home from work, then took a shower to get ready for a trip to the hospital.
That trip to the hospital would end up coming later, after the baby was born.
Angie, a soft-spoken sixth-grader in the dual language program at Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School, was honored Tuesday by members of the New London Fire Department for her “incredible bravery and selflessness” for her actions that evening.
“I got out of the shower. I got a real strong contraction and then I realized ‘This is happening now,’” Solano said, speaking in Spanish. “I told Angie to help me get to my bedroom.”
Solano called for an ambulance and moments later the head of the baby crowned, and Angie had taken a position to catch the baby as it was delivered.
“The baby was coming out. I told her not to squeeze the baby. When the baby came out, she said, ‘I got him. I got him,’” Solano said.
“I was scared, a little nervous,” Angie recalls. “I grabbed the baby and gave it to my mom and grabbed some blankets to cover him up. It was cold.”
Solano, as she was going through labor pains, said Angie was in tears and even grabbed a rosary to ask God that nothing happen to the baby.
“She was very brave,” “muy valiente,” said a proud Solano.
Firefighters who arrived moments later found the baby, named Alvaro, snuggled in a blanket and ready for transport to the hospital.
“She’s a pretty remarkable 11-year-old,” fire Chief Henry Kydd said.
Kydd and a complement of firefighters arrived at Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School on Tuesday afternoon to surprise Angie with the special award and proclamation from the department and Mayor Michael Passero.
Kydd said he’s had several members of his fire crew deliver babies but can’t recall an 11-year-old ever doing the honor.