Baby's arrival generates "Fury" of activity

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Barbara Plante
  • 944th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Plans were made and dates were set but nature had a different idea; Nicholas Tyler Fury was delivered, by his dad, at home June 16 weighing in at 6 pounds, 10 ounces.

"Delivering my son was very surreal to me," said Master Sergeant Steven Fury, a shop chief in the 944th Communications Flight. "I really don't know how but I stayed calm through the whole thing. I guess I have a new EPR bullet - midwife," he said with a huge smile.

Although the baby's due date was predicted for July 11, the doctors had already decided that he would be delivered by caesarean section July 7, however Nicholas had other plans.

Sergeant Fury's wife woke him up about 2 a.m. and told him it was time to go to the hospital. Thinking they had plenty of time she got up, packed a bag, and took a shower; however, by the time she got out of the shower things had already progressed. 

"Her contractions were coming quicker and she felt she was ready to push. At that point I called 911, I explained what was going on and was transferred to the Goodyear Fire Department," Sergeant Fury said.

The dispatcher told Sergeant Fury to lay her on the floor on clean towels. 

"I picked her up and barely got her out of the bathroom and on to the bedroom floor when the baby started coming," he said. 

The fire department kept him on the line giving him advice such as checking the airways for obstructions. 

"I swept my finger in his mouth, pinched his nostrils and was about to turn him over, when he let out nice healthy cry. I cleaned him up a little, wrapped him in a towel, and laid him on his momma's belly," Sergeant Fury said. 

Just after Nicholas arrived, the fire department showed up and took over the situation. They made sure both mom and baby were doing well and prepared them to be transported to the hospital. 

"At the hospital a nurse said, 'you're the guy' and I guess I was," he said with a grin.

Not anticipating a home birth, he had not done any research and was not prepared, but credits his 22 years of CPR and self aid and buddy care given through the Air Force as really helping him in though the entire process. 

"The training just kicked in and took over," he said. "Advice I would give any couple anticipating the birth of their child would be, pack your bag a month early and when she says she is ready, go immediately to the hospital."

Despite being three and one half weeks early, other than his blood sugar being low, which was cleared up after a feeding, Nicholas had no complications. After a couple of days in the hospital both mom and baby were released and are at home doing very well.

Sergeant Fury and his wife, Lilia, have two other children and will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary in the fall. Although from Chicago himself, the couple decided to make Arizona their home, after he got off active duty, since both had family in the area. He joined the 944th Communications Flight in December of 1998 and is employed with Lockheed Martin as a Lead for Enterprise Business Services.

With more than 22 years of service in the Air Force, Sergeant Fury will retire in September and plans to spend more time with his family.