Christie had a birth plan: candles, ambient music, and a birthing pool in a hospital.
However, as is the case for thousands of Americans each year, that trip to the hospital took a diversion, and her daughter was born in the back of an ambulance.
After beginning the drive alone, Christie was met en route by an ambulance and greeted by two paramedics who assured her: “You are in fine hands.” Trusting two strangers in a moment of uncertainty, she gave birth on the spot — her daughter’s place of birth later listed simply as “ambulance.”
Stories like this are more common than many realize and a reminder this Mother’s Day that even the best-laid plans don’t always go as expected. When they do change, first responders regularly step in — often in unpredictable, high-pressure conditions — to help bring new life safely into the world.
Today, 53% of emergency vehicles nationwide are Ford, a reflection of the trust Ford has earned and a responsibility that we take seriously.
Across the country, first responders depend on vehicles that can keep up with the unexpected, and when every second counts on the job, America counts on Ford. From the Broncos used in search-and-rescue operations to the ambulances like the one Christie gave birth in, we are proud of the capability that enables first responders to save lives and safeguard communities. Our vehicle dependability and capability are promises to our first responders, empowering them to showcase the best of human capability in the moments that matter most.
For Rich, a firefighter and EMS worker, those moments have become a meaningful part of the job. Over the course of his storied career as a firefighter & EMS worker, he has delivered five babies pre-hospital — two even from the same mother.
“It’s pretty cool to be there for someone who, honestly, was scared,” he said. “It was a day where they didn’t know what was going to happen, and we got to be there to help them.”
Inside the ambulance — built on a platform designed for reliability, space, and performance under pressure — the focus isn’t on the vehicle itself, but on what it makes possible: calm in chaos and care in motion.
“It was absolutely amazing,” Rich said. “Such a cool thing to be a part of — to know that you helped bring a life into the world.”
Ford has long supported first responders not just through the vehicles they rely on, but through programs designed with them in mind. As a small thank you, Ford offers a First Responder Rebate on eligible new Ford and Lincoln vehicles, recognizing that in those moments, it’s the people who show up that matter most. I'm proud that Ford is committed to equipping those who help build America by showing up when we need them most.
Michael Cope is senior director of Ford Consumer Marketing
