Homeless Man Saves OKC Newborn's Life

Monday, October 15th 2012, 10:25 pm

By: News 9

There were some tense moments for a young pregnant mother on her way to the hospital Thursday, which led to her giving birth inside her car. It all turned into a complicated situation complete with a roller coaster ride of emotions.

Keaton Mason and her fiancée were just 15 minutes away from home when their baby decided it was time. What happened next is being called a miracle.

"It was crazy," 911 caller Jennifer Morris said.

It was just before 10 p.m. Thursday. People at the truck stop at I-40 and Choctaw Road were in for a surprise.

"The lady was screaming, ‘my baby, my baby's blue … she's not breathing," Jennifer Morris said.

A baby girl, born in the passenger seat of a white Honda, had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck. Mom and dad were on the phone with 911, panicking and not knowing what to do. In that moment, help was just feet away.

"Her angel was there," paramedic Sandra Lesperance said.

A man named Gary Wilson was in the right place at the right time.

"He did everything perfectly right," Lesperance said.

Wilson saved the infant's life by freeing her neck, tying the umbilical cord and rubbing her back.

"[I] looked over and this guy was holding a sign saying Memphis," paramedic Tim Ward said.

The hero turned out to be a homeless man who was hitch hiking east.

"I would describe him as kind of looking like Jesus," truck stop employee Waneva Morris said. "He had the long hair, the long beard. [He was] a very nice gentleman."

Keaton Mason was thrilled the man was there.

"He kept me pretty calm actually," the young mother said. "He said 'everything's ok. She's ok, she's breathing.'"

On one of the 911 calls, a polite, calm voice can be heard. It is the voice of Gary Wilson, who by the next morning, was already long gone.

Tatum Brown was born four pounds, 11 ounces. She was four weeks early, but doctors say she is doing just fine. After Wilson's good deed, employees at the truck stop offered him a hot meal and a place to sleep.

The homeless man told people at the truck stop he was from Montana and is making his way to Jacksonville, Florida.