Officers reunited with baby girl they helped deliver on Easter

Officer Lawrence Nickerson — who helped Kaliyah Stokes in the birth of her daughter, Avah Jones on Easter Sunday — reunited with the baby at a baby shower Tuesday at the Grand Crossing District police station.

The infant who was delivered outside the Grand Crossing District police station on Easter was reunited once again with those who helped bring her into the world during a post-birth baby shower Tuesday.

“All I can say is that she might not know it yet, but she has a bunch of police officers that are honorary uncles and aunts,” said Officer Geraldine Hutchinson, one of the seven officers who helped deliver 10-week-old Avah Jones in April.

“We thought that a baby shower should probably be before the baby, but since we didn’t get that opportunity we thought we’d do it now.”

Kaliyah Stokes made several trips to the hospital before Avah was born and thought it may be another round of false alarm when she felt the contractions. But when her water broke, she woke her father up to take her to the hospital.

As he drove, Johnny Stokes, realized his grandchild wasn’t going to wait, so pulled onto the sidewalk of the station to ask for help.

When the officers approached the car, they realized Avah had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck. The officers were able to remove the cord and Avah began to cry before she was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital.

Baby Avah Jones was born on Easter Sunday outside of the 3rd District Police Station. The 10-week-old baby girl reunited with the officers who helped assist in her birth on Tuesday.

“Again thank you so much for the gifts and delivering her safe,” Kaliyah Stokes said at the celebration Tuesday at the police station, 7040 S. Cottage Grove Ave.

“Now she’s here and when she gets older she will know about you guys.”

Johnny Stokes said he was thankful the officers knew how to handle the situation.

“They were calm, cool and collected like they had done this before so they went right into action, which was great,” the elder Stokes said. “Without them, there’s no telling what could have happened. Ever since that day, she’s been a blessing to all of us.”

Officer Lawrence Nickerson Jr. said that although he never delivered a baby before, he was glad his experience as a parent helped.

“Me being a father, I have been in the delivery room a couple of times, so it wasn’t a shock, but I knew we needed more help,” Nickerson said. “It was a collaborative effort. I’m glad that we were able to assist Kaliyah in the birth of her child and that the child is doing well and she’s healthy.”

Nickerson then told the guest of honor, “Baby Avah you definitely presented me with a first experience, one that I will never forget and hopefully we’ll keep in touch.”