Norton Writes to Mother who Gave Birth in L’Enfant Plaza Metro Station

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), the newly elected Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, which has jurisdiction over the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and other public transit, today wrote a letter to Shavonnte Taylor, who gave birth in the L'Enfant Plaza Metro station on Thursday morning. The baby, who was delivered with the help of a Metro passenger, Autumn Manka, a licensed emergency medical technician, arrived more than two weeks before his August 17 due date.

The full text of Norton's letter follows.

Dear Shavonnte,

Congratulations on the birth of a healthy baby boy! I am sure that throughout D.C., people are joyful and proud of the courage you showed as labor came sooner than you expected. Because I have just been elected lead Democrat of the subcommittee with jurisdiction over WMATA and other public transit, I was really relieved that a WMATA passenger, Autumn Manka, a licensed medical technician knew how to deliver babies and that WMATA employees apparently did what was necessary to safeguard you and the baby boy. We are grateful to Ms. Manka for acting so quickly and so well.

We all celebrate childbirth, but I remember how nervous I was giving birth in a hospital to my two kids, and I try to imagine how you must have felt. As you know well, having a baby comes with its own set of anxieties because babies come when they get ready, and decide for themselves whether to take their time or come rushing into this world, as your baby boy did. You set an example for us all of how to face the unexpected and get it done. Congratulations to you and the baby!

Sincerely,

Eleanor Holmes Norton

Published: August 2, 2013