Mother Delivers Baby in Ambulance on Highway 5

Marissa Ross, a mother of four from Bridge Lake, delivered her fourth child on the side of Highway 5 on October 20. She and her husband were traveling to Kamloops for the birth when her water broke. The baby, a daughter named Remi, was born just south of Little Fort.

Ross is a registered nurse at the 100 Mile District General Hospital, where she provides postnatal care for new mothers. She already has three sons, making her experienced with childbirth despite the unexpected location of this delivery.

“I delivered my daughter within 50 minutes of my water breaking.”

Earlier that day, Ross visited a doctor in Kamloops because October 20 was her due date. Her doctor told her she was not ready to deliver and advised her to go home, expecting to see her in a couple of days.

That evening, while putting her other children to bed, Ross began feeling sore and crampy. She initially dismissed the discomfort as Braxton Hicks contractions, but within an hour the pain increased and she called her husband in from ranch chores.

The couple called Ross's in-laws to watch the children. During that call, her water broke, and after the in-laws arrived, they drove straight toward Kamloops in their truck.

Ross said they feared they would not reach the hospital in time, recalling that her previous delivery allowed 30 to 40 minutes to spare. This time, she delivered her daughter within 50 minutes of her water breaking.

Ross expressed gratitude for the paramedic team that supported her and her husband and helped them arrive safely.