Reassuring story - Dispatch Editorial

Jasmine Raquel Moore's birth, last Wednesday, might have given her mother a bit of a scare, but the story's happy ending should be reassuring to the rest of us in central Minnesota.

The story, featured on Page1A of Monday's Brainerd Dispatch, was about a close call that an expectant mother had when she went into labor earlier than anticipated.

Lorine Moore, 20, of Pine River was playing bingo at the Jenkins VFW when it became clear that soon-to-be-born Jasmine was going to make her debut sooner rather than later.

Alert employees at the Pequot Lakes SuperAmerica, where Moore had stopped on her way to the hospital, called 911. About 15 First Responders arrived at the scene. They were prepared to help the mom-to-be but an ambulance responded within about 15 to 20 minutes and she was whisked off to St. Joseph's Medical Center. It was there that a doctor was able to deliver Pine River's newest resident at 6 pounds, 15 ounces.

The reassuring news for residents of rural Crow Wing County is that an expectant mother who was in need of help was able to get 15 First Responders to come to her aid in a hurry and the ambulance was not far behind.

The men and women who serve as First Responders, police officers, firefighters, ambulance and emergency room personnel perform a vital community service. Sometimes it takes a heartwarming story such as the birth of Jasmine Raquel to remind us of their quiet heroism.