Medics take care of Keesler’s expectant mothers

Senior Airman Kimberly Harris (center) signs in at Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio after being evacuated from Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., because of Hurricane Katrina on Aug. 30. Normally, expectant mothers past 36 weeks of pregnancy are recommended not to fly, but because of the conditions at Keesler, 36 expectant mothers, many of them close to their due dates, and their families were flown here to deliver their children. Senior Airman Harris is in her 37th week of pregnancy with her first child and is a vehicle operations specialist from Keesler. (U.S. Air Force photo by Dewey Mitchell)

By Staff Sgt. Julie Weckerlein
Air Force Print News

WASHINGTON -- Kimberly Harris knew things were bad when the water started creeping up her legs in the Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., hospital basement Aug. 29, but the nine-months-pregnant senior airman knew it was getting a lot worse when another expectant mom had an emergency cesarean section -- by flashlight.

“That’s when it got scary,” said Harris, a vehicle operations specialist for the 81st Transportation Squadron at Keesler. “There was no electricity, no food or air conditioning. We had survived the hurricane, but the aftermath was something else.”

Airman Harris was one of 34 mothers airlifted out of Mississippi to Texas in response to Hurricane Katrina. They were sent to Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland AFB, Texas.

Though women past the 36th week of pregnancy are normally not allowed to fly, the dangerous circumstances offered officials little choice.

“This was just something that had to be done,” said Lt. Col. Dana Howard, director of operations for the 859th Medical Squadron at Wilford Hall. “I can’t emphasize enough what a huge team event this was between the different bases. There was a lot of coordination on all sides, a lot of people supporting this.”

This was not the first time the Air Force has moved its expectant mothers out of harm’s way. In 2003 and 2004, pregnant Airmen and families were flown from Turkey to Germany when conditions and situations deemed it necessary. This was the first time, though, Colonel Howard experienced this type of mission firsthand.

“I think this (medical airlift) shows that the Air Force team goes anywhere, anytime, any place. It does what it can to take care of its own,” Colonel Howard said. “We’re there to pick up the pieces when disaster strikes.”

Harris said the treatment she has received thus far has helped redeem her confidence in the Air Force family.

“No one knew just how bad it was going to be,” she said, referring to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. “I remember feeling like we should have been taken out of Keesler sooner, or at least moved to higher ground. But the second I stepped onto that cargo plane, I gained a whole new level of respect for everything that was being done for us.”

The expectant mothers and their families were immediately taken to a reception hall after their middle-of-the-night flights, where they received food and medical assistance. They were also provided clothing and a place to stay.

“Everyone was so appreciative,” Howard said. “They were just grateful to have a warm bed to sleep in and food to eat. Some of the women came to us with no shoes. They were certainly coming from a very tragic situation.”

Many of the items and services were donated by various organizations, including the Lackland Family Support Center, spouses’ groups, the Air Force Aid society and other base organizations.

Harris, who is due to give birth to her first child -- a boy -- in a few weeks, said there are few words that can describe the type of emotional and physical stress she’s been put through the past few days.

“I’m a single parent, so it’s been especially hard. But I feel a lot better being here. They’re doing a good job taking care of us and making sure all of our babies’ needs are being met,” she said.

Since the evacuation, a few of the mothers have given birth at the medical center.

“The best feeling is knowing these babies are being born in a safe, warm place,” said Howard. “And to my knowledge, none of them have been named Katrina.”