The Hake family had a special delivery on the morning of August 5 when baby Kennedy decided to enter this world on her own timeline. (Photos by Brenda Staples Photography)

Imagine you are 8 1/2 months pregnant, you’ve been sent home twice already from the hospital for false labor, and your doctor is on vacation. You’ve enjoyed a typical Sunday afternoon including a trip to Costco and dinner with your parents. Now imagine delivering your baby, by yourself, just a few hours after going to bed.

Meet the Hake family from Bradford Knoll in Fishers – including its newest member!

Leslie and Christopher Hake live near 106th and Cumberland Rd. in Fishers with their two year old son, Jackson. On the morning of August 5, Leslie woke up around 12:30 a.m., to some discomfort caused by the baby. This wasn’t the first time she had felt this sort of pain. Following the advice of her doctor, she took a hot shower to relax, hoping the pain would subside. As she returned to bed, Chris awoke.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“I think I’m in labor,” Leslie responded.

Recalling two previous false alarms, Chris jokingly told Leslie, “Well, if we leave now, we can be back home by 4:00 a.m.”

Baby Kennedy was born at 2:17 am, just 22 minutes after Leslie paged her doctor. She was a healthy six lb., 10 oz. girl.

Leslie’s pains became more intense and closer together. At 1:55 a.m., Leslie paged her doctor. In the 10 minutes it took for the doctor to return the call, Leslie was in full labor in her master bathroom. Chris called his mother-in-law to come take care of Jackson so he could rush Leslie to the hospital. Chris returned to check on Leslie just moments later and he could see the baby’s head.

“Call 911,” shouted Leslie to Chris, who by this point – and by his own admission – was in full panic mode.

In the mere seconds that it took for Chris to give the 911 operator their home address, and the operator to sound the alarm for neighboring Fishers Fire Department Station 94, Leslie gave birth to her six lb., 10 oz. girl, Kennedy, at 2:17 a.m.

First responders arrived to find Chris standing at the front door pointing to the upstairs bath. He told them, “Hurry up, she just had the baby!”

Fishers Firefighters Bobby Schlageter and Will Ortiz rushed upstairs only to find Leslie peacefully holding her baby swaddled in a blanket. “I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Schlageter. “Most of the time we are able to get there before the baby is born and get them to the hospital in time.”

Michael Snowden, executive director, Hamilton County Public Safety Communications, admitted this 911 call did not follow their normal protocols. While operators are trained how to deal with childbirth calls, Snowden conceded after listening to the tape, “This baby was on her own timeline.”

“I think everyone was in shock when we arrived,” said Ortiz. “Leslie did an amazing job.”

As for Jackson, he slept through the night and visited his new sister at the hospital later that morning. He’s still adjusting, complaining only when his little sister cries. Mom and baby are doing great. Both are getting some rest between the every-four-hours feedings. Chris has a new found appreciation for his wife after her ordeal. “She handled it like a pro, I have more respect for what she did (childbirth) than ever before,” he said shaking his head. “I know I couldn’t have done it.”