JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - What started as a routine trip to the airport for an eagerly awaited wedding turned into an unforgettable moment for Army Capt. Seamus McGettigan. On February 26, McGettigan, a space operations officer stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, found himself delivering a baby girl in the parking garage of his Tacoma apartment complex.

McGettigan, a native of Ottawa, Ill, was preparing to depart for his wedding back home with his then-fiancée, Joy. As they were getting ready to leave for the airport, they encountered a frantic family in the parking garage. A visibly pregnant woman was in active labor while her husband was struggling to load their toddler and bags into their car for a desperate dash to the hospital. “I heard the woman cry out that she felt the baby coming, and I knew I had to help,” said McGettigan.

Thinking quickly, McGettigan called for his fiancée, who immediately called 911, relaying instructions from the dispatcher to McGettigan. “I grabbed some blankets and jackets to create a makeshift bed on the garage floor,” said McGettigan, “by then the baby’s head was already emerging as the mother was standing there.”

Guided by the 911 dispatcher through his fiancé, McGettigan calmly helped the mother into a comfortable position. Moments later, a healthy baby girl was born. McGettigan cleared the newborn's airway, stimulating her to cry, and ensured she was breathing properly. “My first priority was making sure the baby was breathing and that she had skin-to-skin contact with her mother,” he said.

Paramedics arrived moments later to a scene of relief and elation. Thanks to McGettigan's quick thinking, both mother and baby were healthy and safe.

Now married, McGettigan considers the experience a blessing. "To be a part of such a miracle, the miracle of childbirth, is something I'll never forget," he shared. He and his new wife Joy have formed a strong bond with the family they helped, proving that even the most unexpected encounters can lead to lasting friendships.

"We've recently had dinner together with the family, just to spend time and share stories," McGettigan added. "It's definitely a unique start to what I know will be a great friendship.”