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Marine In Iraq Witnesses Son's Birth In Fulton

Posted: 2:34 pm EDT July 14, 2009Updated: 4:37 pm EDT July 14, 2009

A Marine stationed in Iraq was able to witness the birth of his son in Fulton County thanks to Northside Hospital and the Freedom Calls Foundation.

Marine Corporal Chad Guess is stationed in Al Asad, Iraq and was able to talk to his wife, Lauren, during her C-section Monday via videoconference and watch as his son was delivered.

"He was right next to me. Just like he would've been in real life," said Lauren. "So he could see the baby when he came out from the other side of the curtain."

Tuesday, mom, baby, and dad spent more quality time together as a family of three.


SLIDESHOW: Marine In Iraq Sees Baby's Birth

"I'm so thankful that Northside Hospital stepped up to help us in our time of need; I thought I'd be having baby Ethan alone. We never could have imagined that my husband could have been here for the birth when he is 8,000 miles away fighting a war. This means the world to me and my family,” said Lauren.

Freedom Calls has arranged for Lcpl. Chad Guess to see his family three times a month at their home via video conference.

“We realize how difficult it can be for families who are apart during a loved one’s hospitalization, especially during the birth of a child,” said Russ Davis, director of marketing and public relations at Northside Hospital.

"Northside Hospital greatly appreciates the work of the Freedom Calls Foundation and we were delighted to be a part of this extra-special delivery.”

John Harlow, Executive Director of the Freedom Calls Foundation, stated that "the foundation is transforming a long-standing family communication paradigm in time of war by enabling soldiers in the war zone to attend and participate in milestone family events like weddings, 1st communions and new births, etc. Soldiers may now keep their commitments to their families at the same time they keep their commitment to their country. The long-term vision of the Freedom Calls Foundation is that our war fighters will be able to come home from a day on the battlefield and spend virtual time with their families every night using state-of-the-art technology. The contribution of resources by community citizens like Northside Hospital enables the foundation to fulfill its mission."

The Guess family video conferences are being conducted over the satellite network that Freedom Calls has built in cooperation with the army and Marines to serves U.S. deployed military personnel and their families 24 hours per day free of charge. It is funded 100% by donations by the American public.

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