ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, January 9, 1996 TAG: 9601090027
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BETTY HAYDEN STAFF WRITER
BLIZZARD-LIKE CONDITIONS didn't stop these babies. Of course, their mothers had a lot of help getting to the hospital.
The stork didn't let 22 inches of snow keep him from his appointed rounds. Just ask Sabrina Catron.
The 18-year-old Roanoke County resident gave birth to her first child, Daniel Lane Catron, Sunday night - but labor was the easy part.
Getting to Community Hospital of the Roanoke Valley proved to be a challenge for Catron and the Vinton First Aid Crew, which covers her part of the county.
As Catron's mother-in-law, Vicky Catron, remembers, "I didn't think we were going to make it."
Vicky Catron was Sabrina's Lamaze coach, but she said she shivered at the prospect of a home delivery.
"I'd helped deliver calves before, but never a baby."
Not to worry. The rescue squad workers never gave up.
When the first rescue squad slid off the road and a second one couldn't quite make it to Catron's home on Mountain View Road, the crew members set out on foot.
Vicky Catron said Sabrina saw the three-person team coming across a field toward the house, up to their knees in snow.
Of the three, only a female crew member had on boots; one man wore tennis shoes.
Wayne Simmons was the third member, and he had to retrieve one of his loafers from the snow.
After the squad members brushed enough snow away to get up Catron's steps, they still had to get her up the street to the rescue squad.
Sabrina's husband, John Catron, is a farmer, so he tried driving his tractor but got stuck.
Thanks to Town Manager Clay Goodman, a Vinton snowplow operator was called off the job to come after Sabrina. Simmons said they couldn't have done it without the town's help.
The snowplow plodded up the street and Sabrina and Vicky Catron hopped into the Vinton rescue unit. John Catron managed to find another way to the hospital, and all were on hand for Daniel's arrival at 9:16 p.m.
Vicky Catron said she should have guessed Daniel would be born during a snowstorm because his father entered the world under similar circumstances on what will be 18 years ago Saturday.
She said John was almost born in a Roanoke Parks and Recreation Department vehicle. The volunteers got her to the hospital at 4:45 p.m., and he was born at 5:15.
Another couple, Cynthia and Roger Adams, knew their first daughter, Chelsea Catherine, would be born Sunday - Cynthia is diabetic, and her doctor planned to induce labor a few weeks before her due date. The Adamses, who live in Bassett, drove to Cynthia's parents' home in Bedford County Saturday to be closer to Roanoke.
Cynthia's parents drove her to the hospital Sunday in their four-wheel-drive. It took them two hours, but they made it.
For Rick and Ivy Lupacchino, who live in Troutville, giving birth during the snowstorm was a tale of two babies - they delivered twins, Eli Martin and Elena Maria, Sunday morning.
The Luppachinos have three other children, ages 6, 4 and 2, so getting to the hospital was only part of their dilemma - they needed to get the two oldest children to a neighbor's house. The youngest, Micah, was staying with Ivy's parents in Daleville. Their problem was solved when another rescue squad drove Hali and Mario to the neighbor's.
The new parents and Ivy's mother remained at Community Hospital on Monday, unable to get home or relieve Ivy's father, who was home alone with a 2-year-old and changing diapers for the first time.
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: KEITH GRAHAM/Staff. Cynthia Adams holds new daughterby CNBChelsea Catherine, born in a storm. color.