This Firefighter Goes Beyond His Call Of Duty, Gets The Most Pleasant Surprise Of His Life

 Says the owner of Ford Motor Company, Henry Ford, to do more for the world than the world does for you that is success. And who proves his words? Who are these people who work for the sake of goodness and humanity? What do they look like? Well, our real world’s heroes are the police officers, soldiers, and firefighters. Although not all of them do their job with seriousness, those who do help in making this planet a better place every day. Yes, definitely one’s job title isn’t enough to judge them but these specific jobs come with a responsibility that people look up to them as saviors.

So, the reason why we are talking about saviors is our today’s story; the amazing story of a firefighter. The guy who just with his one emotional decision not only saved but changed many lives.

Devoted Firefighter

Marc Hadden, a young family man worked as a firefighter in Myrtle Beach, North Carolina. A person who loves his job stands out of the queue of ordinary people and so does Marc. He loved the fact that every day his work gave him wonderful opportunities for saving people’s lives and making this world a better place in a small way. Everyday Marc has to deal with different people and tackle the situations accordingly. He always puts in more efforts than required in his job. Out of all the odd circumstances that he always stays prepared for, what happened on his shift was out of his imagination.

A Family Man

Every day when Marc gets off from the office, he’s always eager to meet his beautiful wife Beth Hadden, an instructional coach in an elementary school, two sons Will and Parker who complete the Hadden family. Beth and the kids have always been supportive of this man’s risky job and untimely calls from work. Marc is an amazing husband and loving father doing a dignified job. One emergency call changed their lives in a magical way.

Regular Days

Mostly the firefighters stay back in their center and wait in case anyone needs their help. If everything around the fire brigade center is quiet and smoothly going then they don’t have much to worry about. That’s how their every other day goes. However, someday becomes more than hectic for any ordinary human to bear. As Caroline Paul, an American writer and speaker said the righteous thing,  Most people go to the office and sit at a desk. When firefighters go to the office, we might birth a baby in the morning, save a drowning surfer in the afternoon, and run into a fire at night. What could be more interesting than that? 

November 14, 2011, was not like the regular days as a sequence of shocking events were waiting for Marc Hadden, the firefighter.

Just Another Day

On November 14, 2011, Marc and his teammates were almost assuming it to be a day without any action. However, the moment all of them sat to have their lunch they received an emergency call. This was going to be the greatest thing Marc has ever done in his life for others and for his family. “It was just a somewhat normal call,” said Marc in an interview. At least that’s what he thought at first, he added, “very quickly we realized that it was going to be a life changer for us.”

Call Of Duty

The woman on the other side was suffering from serious abdomen pain. As a firefighter, Marc is trained to help people in any circumstances. He could never transfer a call to another emergency department in an emergency situation like this. Also, the fire brigade is generally called on the spot with an ambulance in cases of medical emergency. Without wasting any more time he took the address and hurried towards the location.

No Time To Waste

Marc reached the location as soon as possible. The moment he saw the lady who called him, Marc understood the trouble. The woman was pregnant and the abdominal pain that she was going through was due to the contractions as she was in labor pain. She was close to giving birth.  Although, the pregnant woman should be taken to hospital in such cases the scene was more tricky here. Thus, Marc and his teammate had to make quick decisions.

Calculating The Probability

As Marc and his team were supposed to decide if they were about to take the lady to the hospital or what else should be done. The time was running fast and the team was now sure that the lady cannot take it for another 15-20 minutes. They made their calculations and according to them, the lady was about to give birth in less than 5 minutes. 

Just Do It

“It was a pretty serious call for us,” said Marc in an interview. They were in the parking lot about to move towards the hospital when this decision was taken. It was clear that they had no time to rush to the hospital and that the team of firefighters has to deliver the baby. This wasn’t the first time they were about to conduct a delivery, firefighters are specially trained for situations like these.

Think Quick

They were going to deliver the baby Marc recalled about that moment, “we got her on some oxygen, started some IVs and literally as we were getting ready to leave the parking lot in the ambulance, my partner said, ‘We’re about to deliver a baby right here.’” Marc was aware that it’s a critical situation what he wasn’t aware of was the fact that this was about to be the best thing he’ll ever be a part of.

The Moment Of Truth

Marc quickly ran into action. The first thing they did was to cut her clothes so that they can easily deliver the baby. All of a sudden a regular day at office changed to an exceptionally hustling one to save two lives. Although Marc’s teammates have faced such situations before Marc only saved lives before, he never delivered a baby ever. So, yes this was more significant for Marc than anyone else in his team.

Here It Goes

Both the mother and the baby girl were safe but the struggling thing was yet be revealed by the lady. The baby girl was given to Marc right after her birth. This was an emotional moment for the young firefighter. But he wasn’t aware that his whole family will be thankful for this moment for the rest of their lives. 

First Cry

“She struggled from the minute she was put in my hands,” Hadden recalled holding the newly born 6-pound, 2-oz. (2.8 kg) girl. For a baby, it is very important to cry as it helps in removing the excess water in the lungs, nose, and mouth. She was breathing properly but didn’t cry. “It was amazing to hear her cry,” Marc said thinking of the moment.

The Sad Part

After the baby girl was delivered, Marc and the team took them straight to the hospital. When everything seemed fine a sad discovery was waiting to be revealed. Although both the mother and the baby were healthy and doing fine the mother told her true condition to the doctors. She couldn’t take care of the baby and she wanted it to put the newborn for adoption. She wasn’t a minor then why she wanted to give up her own very first baby girl up? The answer was more disheartening.

Struggling Mother

Within a few hours of the baby girl and her mother taken to the hospital, it was clear that the lady was a single mother. She didn’t have anyone to look after the baby. She was already so caught up in taking care of her teenage son that it seemed impossible for her to bring up another girl especially when she was struggling both financially as well as emotionally.

Eligible Parents

Every mother wants her baby to be happy even if the unfortunate circumstances bound them to give their babies up. Similarly, this woman was concerned about her child too and that’s when she shared her concerns with the doctors. The doctors told about the woman’s condition to the firefighters’ team who were involved in delivering the baby. When Marc was getting an update from the doctor about the lady and her baby he got the news that the little girl he just delivered is going to be put up for adoption. All of a sudden it reminded him of Beth, his loving wife for an obvious reason. 

Need You Now

Marc was disheartened after realizing that the first baby he ever delivered was put up for adoption. He wanted to share his feelings with someone and who else could have been better than Beth? Thus, Marc called Beth to speak his heart out. He told about the whole incident at first he was excited when he told about the first half part of the story, but his voice was filled with disappointment while telling the latter half. 

Fatherly Instincts

Beth sensed that it was heartbreaking for Marc. He himself is a father of two and he felt sad for the poor infant who is to be put through the adoption agencies and possibly will not get a nice family. He told Beth about how he jokingly told the doctors that he’ll be her father. And Beth’s response to this was so amazing.

Longed For A Baby Girl

“He called me and he was ecstatic. I mean, he delivered a baby and who in the world gets to deliver a baby in their lifetime that’s not a doctor,” she recalls in an interview. The couple already had two boys but they always longed for a girl. However, adoption was never their plan they always liked it as an alternative though. Just like Marc’s funny statement in front of the doctors to be the infant’s father, Beth too said something similar to Marc when she got to know about this special little angelic girl.

Can We?

So far, Beth only knew that Marc delivered a baby girl and she jokingly questioned, “Can we keep her?” That’s when Marc told his wife about the mother and daughter’s present situation and how the baby was going to be put up for adoption. Beth was touched after listening to their story and she wanted to go and meet this woman and her just born.

Were There Any Hopes?

This sweet little girl could be their dream come true but things weren’t as easy as it sees in the first place. The couple badly wanted to have a baby girl. And this seemed like an opportunity made for them in the heaven. But was it actually possible or were they just being impractical?

Unexpected Timing

“Ever since we had the boys, we knew that we wanted more children, but I was preterm with them so we knew that it wasn’t possible to have any more babies,” said Beth. They never thought of this emergency situation to result in the greatest hope for them. The only question was if the birth mother was ready to give her baby to the couple who was now looking up to it.

Let’s Meet Up

“I will never forget that day. It was a day when a lot of things came full circle,” the couple recalls of the fateful day. The couple was off to meet the baby and her mother on the very next day. And there it was, the most miraculous moment of the Marc and Beth’s life.

A Special Visit

“My heart just went out to this woman,” Beth recalls the moment she met him. Beth went straight to meet them after her school working hours were over. She was at the hospital, holding a prayer book in her hands. She just wanted to help the lady in any way she could. But she never imagined that this woman is going to change her life forever.

A Heart To Heart

The two were talking when a doctor arrived in the room just to take a look if the woman doing fine. The doctor was also in the room to inform the lady that everything was set for the adoption process. In that moment with Beth in the room, that woman was more concerned than ever to get a good family for her daughter’s future life. And within a few moments, she said something that was the best present for Beth.

Let’s Do It

The lady looked right into Beth’s eyes and said, “I want you to adopt my baby. I can’t give my baby to someone I’ve never met.” Her blessings meant so much to her that she instantly called Marc who remembers those as one of the most joyful moments for him.

Love At First Sight

The moment Beth saw the baby girl, she was in love with her at the first sight. Her motherly instincts were awakened just by looking at this infant who was sleeping without any care of the world. She remembers calling Marc at the very moment and said, “I think we just had a baby!”

Agreed At Last!

Within hours of Beth visiting the newborn with her birth mother, the couple signed temporary custody papers. Within two days of her birth, the little soul was welcomed in the Hadden family. They named her Rebecca Grace Hadden and they call her Gracie for short. Parents’ main concern after adopting a child is whether to tell their kid about the adoption and when and how. That part was also taken care of with perfection.

Welcoming Words

After bringing Gracie home, out of excitement, the first words came out from Beth to her husband were, “Oh my gosh, we have to pay for a wedding.” Afterall, she just had a girl out of nowhere after two boys. Yes, it was a dream come true but the couple’s feelings were far better from their expectations. Although it was just temporary custody, soon the little angel became part of the Hadden family and filled their boys’ heart with so much delight.

A True Blessing

Making a journey back to the memory lane, Marc never thought about a regular office day changing into nothing but his best day. The girl he just delivered became his family. Within the same year, the Hadden family got her full legal custody.  The couple always wanted to adopt a baby girl but they left it completely in the hands of time and G0d. Their prayers were finally answered and Beth said, “it felt like winning the lottery.”

Paying It Forward

“To see my wife’s face light up when we brought Gracie home. I can’t even begin to tell you,” Marc tells about his wife’s reaction. Gracie’s story was so touching that she was admired in the community. It was so great that their neighborhood was up for their help. Everyone who knew their story was fascinated by the idea and Gracie was the whole society’s favorite.

The Butterfly Effect

“I don’t know what we would have done because we have definitely outgrown our home. So we’re just truly blessed to have friends that will pull together for us like this,” said Marc who couldn’t believe all the support he was getting from the people. With all this generosity and especially the Hadden’s contractor Buddy Satterfield who assisted in adding a fourth bedroom for the new family member. They divided the dining room from the family room. After this partition, there was a fourth room for Gracie.

Father Of The Year

After Gracie’s birth, the Myrtle Beach Fire Department awarded Marc Hadden a Firefighter of the Year award for his determination at the scene of the emergency. Also, for giving Gracie an opportunity to be a part of his family. The man with a generous heart still said that his biggest award is his daughter who came into his life as a blessing. The couple managed to capture her early days of growth and the amazing bond that she shares with her brothers, Will and Parker.

Broaching The Subject

“We told her pretty much from day one. I’ve taken her to the back of the ambulance where she was born, so she knows – no doubt about it,” Marc told in an interview. She was always kept aware of the truth of her adoption, unlike many families who prefer for the kids to be mature enough to know the truth of their adoption. 

Not In The Favor

The couple was never in a favor of the idea of giving Gracie a surprise at any point in time. The family together decided to tell her slowly as per her age. Gracie is still a bit young to understand all the things practically. Both Beth and Marc know the importance of this moment and they still have to explain it to Gracie in detail when she is all grown up. For now, Gracie seems to have her own outlook about the things.

Her Take On Things

Gracie who is just 6 years old is aware of the whole story of her birth. She sweetly said when she was asked about it, “my daddy delivered me in the back of an ambulance and helped me take my first breath.” This is because the couple wanted her to know where she came from and therefore they have put more emphasis on it. And the couple is certain that they’ll be by her side as they are now whenever she needs them.

A Daddy’s Girl

Gracie is closest to her father, Marc; the duo shares a special bond. Marc even went on saying,“ she is my best friend. We share an amazing bond.” They love to go out to their favorite restaurant Chick-fil-A and prefer to talk and develop more understanding among themselves every time. They are partners in pranks as Marc adds, “we’re tighter than thieves.”

A Full Time Dad

Marc Hadden decided to retire from firefighting and he now works on a volunteer basis. Without the job, Marc’s days are busier than ever with Gracie by his side. “Every day I look forward to waking her up, getting her ready for school, then picking her up later on,” said Marc.

Such A Contribution

Marc doesn’t regret anything in his life since he adopted Gracie and says he is more than happy with Gracie’s presence. He said, “she has contributed to all of our lives. She is part of our family and that is absolutely the way it is. We love her.” Gracie has become a wonderful kid who is smarter than her age.

A Day In The Life Of Gracie

Gracie will be 7 years old in November. The girl enjoys playing soccer and practicing gymnastics while wearing her bows and tutus. Other times when she is not keeping herself busy, her parents take her to a daycare. Gracie last year started her schooling in the same school where Beth is an instructor.

Sibling Love

Will, now 15 and Parker, 13 have been Gracie’s tutor and Beth tells about Gracie being a “tough little joker because she has two big brothers who have trained her right.” They are protective of their younger sister and give her pieces of advice and tips that will help her as she grows. When Gracie at first became a part of the Hadden family, Will said, “I just love her to pieces.”

Family Vacation

The family of five is obviously increasing every day. They share family time on vacations, picnics, playing outdoor family games. Beth and Marc sometimes say that they still pinch themselves to be sure that it’s not a dream and Gracie is their girl in real life now.

Holiday Time

Christmas is a wonderful time for them. As their kids are growing older, the couple admires each and every moment they share together. They look forward to the future as an exciting passageway to more happiness. Being the parents of three healthy and great kids, the couple would have never traded this for anything else. 

Like Mother, Like Daughter

“This kid cracks me up. That raspy voice and her confidence melt my heart. I pray that she will always have the confidence to be exactly who God created her to be.”  -posted Beth as a caption for her and Gracie’s picture. They both enjoy doing girly stuff together and Gracie learns everything from her mother.

A Message To The World

“If even one child is placed in a family that is as loving and supportive as ours is, then that’s our message!” tells Beth talking about Gracie and adoption in an interview. She is quite certain that Gracie is the best choice of their lives.

Coming Full Circle

When people talk about the Hadden family, they often say that the couple saved Gracie’s life. But they look at it in a completely different way, “We didn’t save her, she saved us!”, the Hadden family further adds, “She’s ours and we love her. We are truly blessed, for sure!”