During her pregnancy, Sha Nya Bennett frequently indulged in a freshly made doughnut.
She remarked, “I’ve always loved them.” Nothing compares to glazed doughnuts.
She is lucky to feel that way because she will soon be enjoying many more doughnuts.
The day after a rare snowstorm struck central and south Alabama, including Dothan, where Bennett resides close to the Florida state line, about a week ago, Bennett went into labor with her second son.
She claimed that even though I had a contraction the moment I woke up that day, I chose to ignore it. After that, I had additional contractions after taking a shower. I decided it was time to call the doctor.
When the phone at her obstetrician’s office went unanswered, 23-year-old Bennett understood that the town was likely still closed due to the storm.
She remarked it seemed absurd to see six inches of snow. Here, we have no idea how to drive in the snow.
She and her partner, Keon Mitchell, however, gathered her overnight bag, got into their car with their 4-year-old son, Legend, and drove to a hospital that was approximately 20 minutes away because she had to get there.
“I called 911 and informed them of the situation because the roads were extremely icy and snowy,” Mitchell, 24, added. Either continue driving or stop and wait for assistance, they said.
She clutched the passenger seat as Bennett’s contractions intensified and instructed Mitchell to continue driving.
She said, “I wanted to give birth in a hospital, not on the side of the road.”
Her water broke about a mile from the hospital.
Bennett remembered that we were seated at the stop sign near Krispy Kreme. Legend and I had gone there a few days prior to have a glazed doughnut.
She remembered requesting Mitchell, “Please take me to Krispy Kreme,” as the light turned green. Giving birth in the middle of the intersection was not something she wanted to do.
No one was there when we pulled into the parking lot. Bennett stated that they were closed for the storm. I realized then that the baby will be born in the automobile.
Mitchell claimed that when he called 911, a dispatcher informed him that paramedics would be arriving shortly. However, waiting was not an option.
Sha Nya instructed me to grab the baby as he was about to come out. I didn’t have time to reflect because it happened so quickly. I had him in my arms in a matter of seconds. It was astounding.
In the back seat, where Legend had been absorbing everything, Mitchell took a baby blanket from Bennett’s overnight bag after noting the birthdate and time, which was January 22 at 12:22 p.m.
Bennett remarked, “You don’t get to see your little brother born every day.”
The arrival of paramedics three minutes later was a huge relief for her and Mitchell, who were thrilled to welcome their new baby, whom they named Dallas.
Bennett stated, “They immediately took us to the hospital after cutting off his umbilical cord,” adding that she and Dallas were unharmed and returned home two days later.
According to her, he weighs five pounds, fourteen ounces and is eating and sleeping well.
He will get his first taste of a doughnut when he is a little older, she continued.
Bennett’s Krispy Kreme special delivery was featured on Alabama’s WTVY, and the manager of the Dothan location offered to give her a dozen free doughnuts every week for a year.
“I can only imagine what it must have been like for her to give birth in our parking lot in the cold,” Blake Rosenkoetter said, adding that he has four children of his own.
According to him, he also informed Bennett that he would like to throw Dallas a doughnut party on his first birthday and each year after that until he becomes 18.
Bennett stated that while she thinks the concept is great, she intends to consume the doughnuts sparingly.
“If I want my shape back, I’ll have to give a lot of those doughnuts away,” she remarked.
This weekend, she and Mitchell intend to pick up their first box, after which they will really examine the middle name that some of their relatives have offered for Dallas.
Mitchell stated, “They want us to use the name Glaze.” It will be his nickname, at the very least.
–The Washington Post’s Cathy Free
