Last week, a dispatcher became the hero of an extraordinary event in Kirkwood, Missouri. Not through daring feats of strength or a thrilling high-speed chase, but via the calm guidance of her voice through a phone line. Jaiden Quarles, a communications dispatcher with the Kirkwood Missouri Police Department, was recognized for her exemplary service when she calmly walked a local woman through childbirth at home. The woman, in the throes of labor and awaiting the arrival of EMS personnel, relied on Quarles' composed instructions to safely deliver her baby.
Described by her colleagues as a moment of pure joy, the landmark event earned Quarles the department's "Stork Award," an honor bestowed upon Kirkwood's finest who provide crucial assistance during childbirth emergencies. The Kirkwood Police Department took to social media to announce the achievement, celebrating Quarles’ remarkable ability to maintain composure under pressure, "Last week, Communications Dispatcher Jaiden Quarles earned her 'Stork Award' as she calmly provided baby delivery instructions over the phone to a Kirkwood woman, in labor, at home, before EMS personnel arrived."
Apart from the public recognition, the "Stork Award" commemorates a dispatcher's direct role in what stands as one of life's most miraculous events: the birth of a child. The Kirkwood Police Department's post triumphantly closed with words that encapsulate the beauty of Quarles’ life-affirming work, "The sound of the crying baby was a delightful sound to hear. Congratulations to the family and great job Jaiden. What a wonderful experience for you."
