Can you help me find Chloe?

If it weren't for Chloe, I might have had my baby at one of Downtown Toronto's busiest intersections. I went into labour on December 9th, 2009. I thought I had lots of time to spare because the contractions weren't so bad. My plan was to catch a taxi near my office.









After the initial pain, I took a breath, and saw this man approaching me. He looked a little like my dad, which I found comforting. I asked him, "Sir can you help me catch a cab?"





The man just glared at me, and he said, "Get your own damn cab. I'm going to catch the streetcar."





And then I just started to cry. I was crying because I realized I really might give birth at the corner of Queen and Spadina, and I was also crying because I didn't know if the next contraction was going to hurt even more than the previous one.





I was still clinging on to the lamp post when a woman approached me. She held me up and asked if I was okay. I told her I needed a taxi to take me to Mount Sinai Hospital. She said "My name is Chloe. I'm going to help you. You're going to be okay." I believed her right away.





Chloe couldn't see a taxi from our corner of the intersection. Then, in amazing Bronze Cross perfection, she sprung into action. In the midst of the crowded corner, she singled out a young man across the street: "Hey you! With green sweater and the red knapsack and the hipster classes! Yes, You!" She yells, "We need to catch a cab. This woman is in labour! This is an emergency!"





And the gentleman with the red knapsack nodded. And she did it again. She did it three times, to cover all four corners of the intersection. There were now four people at this busy, busy corner, all trying to catch a cab. Within seconds, I was in a cab and off to the hospital.





At 4:43 PM that day, my daughter was born. Today she is a happy, healthy four year old girl.





I never did manage to find Chloe from the corner of Queen and Spadina. And both my daughter, Chloe, and I wish we could thank her in person. If you read this, and know a really nice woman called Chloe -- who probably has her Bronze Cross -- please give her kisses, from Gaby and little Chloe.





As told on stage by Gaby Aviad, for the Live Through This live event, in conjunction with the Raconteurs. Do you think you may know Chloe? Live Through This would love to find her. Send us an email at livethroughthis@cbc.ca

I walked to the corner of Queen and Spadina, and suddenly, I was bowled over by the most excruciating pain. Even today, I get goosebumps thinking about the pain of that sudden contraction. I latched on to a nearby light post, thinking "This is it. I'm am going to give birth to my baby right here, across from my favourite bakery, Le Gourmand. They make really good chocolate chip cookies. They probably don't have an in-house OBGYN."