by Dennis Dalman
Tasha and Donovan Allstott of Sartell decided to name their baby-to-be “Patience,” but they had no clue that Patience (eager with impatience) would burst into the world earlier than expected.
On the morning of March 21, three Sartell police officers rushed to the Allstott home to help with the baby’s birth. Coincidentally, one of those officers, Steve Mathews, the first to arrive at the scene, had helped birth another Sartell baby 10 years ago. On Sept. 26, 2015, he was at the scene when tiny Delaney Rose entered the world prematurely in the living room of her parents, Barbara and Graham Eaton. The other two officers at the scene back then were Kelly Mader and John Lester.
Both premature births occurred shortly after the expectant parents called 911 to report an imminent-birth situation. In both cases, a trio of officers arrived quickly, followed by emergency paramedics.
After the 911 call from Donovan Allstott, officer Mathews arrived at the home first, followed by officers Adam VendeVrede and Matt Gray. Tasha was in the bedroom, undergoing labor contractions. Patience was born in the Allstott’s bedroom as the officers stood by helping with the process, followed by paramedics. Eleven minutes after the 911 call, 7-pound-12-ounce Patience was born. Meantime, Donovan comforted the two other young Allstott children as they sat on the couch in the living room.
The good news is all turned out very well, with mother and newborn daughter doing just fine and everyone in the family so happy about the safe arrival of Patience.
Parents and baby were escorted to the hospital for safety checks. There, the officers visited to give Mrs. Allstott a gift basket of baby-care items for Patience.
Later, in a Twin Cities WCCO-TV newscast, the officers were interviewed. VandeVrede said he and his colleagues learned at the scene that the baby had been named Patience before her birth, at which time the three glanced at one another a bit quizzically.
“Patience?” asked VandeVrede, smiling. “Maybe more like Impatience?”
Proud Mama Tasha Allstott holds her precious baby Patience during a rest at the hospital. Two of the three police officers who helped her deliver Patience in her Sartell home are (left) Steve Mathews and Sgt. Matt Gray. The other officer was Adam VandeVrede. They brought to the hospital a gift basket of baby items (on the bed) for the Allstott family .
