FORT CARSON, Colo. -- Pfc. Laryn Rodgers was working access control at Gate 20 Jan. 14, 2015, when something unexpected occurred.
Rodgers, 984th Military Police Company, 759th MP Battalion, was just getting off a shift when she heard a radio call alerting MPs that a Family was approaching the gate in the midst of a medical emergency.
She walked out to a car near the gate, not knowing what to expect, when she encountered Sgt. Dominik Marciano outside of the vehicle. Marciano told Rodgers that his wife was in advanced labor -- very advanced, like, about-to-deliver advanced.
Marciano asked Rodgers if she had ever helped deliver a baby before. Rodgers replied, "No, but I can do this."
That's when her military police training kicked in, along with a bit of farm experience.
She jumped into the car and said, "Let's do this," to the mother, Lindsay Marciano.
In a calming tone, she asked Lindsay Marciano to breathe deeply, then went through the steps she knew all too well from her farm days in Carmel, Illinois. From there the process of childbirth took place, right there in the back seat of the Marciano Family car.
A few minutes later, Giovanni Marciano made his entrance into the world.
Something was wrong though. The baby wasn't breathing.
Rodgers reacted by leaning down and sucking the mucus out of the newborn's nose and throat. Then she massaged his rib cage and feet. After a few moments, Giovanni made everyone near the car aware that he had arrived.
"I've assisted through many births -- horses, goats, kittens to name a few," she said. "They're all similar. But, I've never helped deliver a human."
Now she can say her midwife experience runs the gamut. Still, she doesn't plan on giving up her day job.
"I think being a paramedic would be absolutely horrific," the 19-year-old said. "Besides, I love being an MP. It's everything I hoped for in a career."
Though military police training doesn't include delivering babies, Rodgers can thank at least part of her extraordinary reaction to what she's learned while stationed at Fort Carson.
1st Sgt. Michael Cordery, 984th MP, said the unit trains its members extensively in CPR and first aid, but that much of what MPs do in these types of scenarios is calm people and situations until medical personnel arrive.
"Fortunately for the Family, she was the right person at the right time on scene," said Cordery. "The most amazing part of the incident was what she did once she noticed the baby wasn't breathing. Clearing the airway ultimately saved the baby's life."
Giovanni recovered from the experience well and is a healthy baby. When Rodgers reunited with the Marcianos Jan. 22, 2015, she couldn't help but want to hold the newborn.
"We've become good friends, hopefully, they'll be stationed at Fort Carson as long as I am," Rodgers said. "It will be fun to watch Giovanni grow."
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