HARTFORD — Caroline Glaeser came home from Children’s Wisconsin on Friday after several months in the neonatal intensive care unit, and on their way home for the first time as a family, the Glaesers stopped at the Hartford Fire & Rescue Department to thank Hartford firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics and police officers for making the moment possible.
On Nov. 11, 2023, the Hartford Fire & Rescue Department staff were getting ready to finish up their shift, which ended at 6 a.m. that day, but before they were off a call came in at 5:10 a.m. of an imminent delivery of Caroline at the Glaeser home.
"When we got the page it was 24 weeks is what the page was originally for, and when we got there the baby was partially delivered already," said firefighter and paramedic Taylor Dynes. "When we got the baby fully delivered, there was no heartbeat.”
Dynes and his team of EMTs, paramedics and firefighters immediately began performing CPR, as did police officers who also arrived on scene.
“After 20 minutes of performing CPR and other resuscitative measures, we made a decision to transport (Caroline) to the hospital, and when we finally got to the hospital a combination of our crew and the hospital team were finally able to get a heartbeat back,” Dynes said.
Dynes added that despite all the training that EMTs and paramedics receive from their schooling and monthly training sessions, this was a situation that one couldn’t prepare for until actually going through it.
“You do what you can and just hope that you got a really good team with you and make good recommendations along the way,” Dynes said. “Luckily, I could count on my team that day. Every person was valuable and I wouldn’t trade any team member out.”
Caroline was then transported to Children’s Wisconsin, where she stayed until Friday, when she was finally discharged from the NICU after the past several months.
'It’s unbelievable,” said EMT Kelly Morey, who was also on the call Nov. 11, 2023. “We are thrilled. Thrilled. She’s a miracle story, and we’re all very proud.”
“It means the world,” Dynes said.
On her way home for the first time, Caroline’s parents, Adam and April Glaeser, were escorted to the Hartford Fire 7 Rescue Department by the team that helped save their daughter’s life to thank them for making this day possible.
“I think it’s pretty mindblowing,” said April. “We definitely didn’t think we were going to be here. It’s by the grace of God that 178 days ago she was born unplanned at home, and without Hartford Fire & Rescue and the police department, we wouldn’t be here today. So, we’re just overwhelmed and so blessed.”
“Yes, very blessed,” said Adam. “We can’t thank the people of Hartford and everyone here enough for everything that they’ve done for us. We’re truly grateful. She’s here because of them, Children’s Hospital and everyone there, and our families.”
In addition to Dynes and Morey, firefighter and paramedic Patrick Blaesing, paramedic Megan Parins, EMT Emily Gehring, EMT Ben Hoffmann, Fire Captain Kyle Wenzel, Advanced EMT Joleen Sabel, officer Andrew Bahr, officer Craig Beine and officer Eric Strunsee assisted with the delivery of Caroline Glaeser on Nov. 11, 2023.
