Front Office Football Central - Father views baby's birth from Iraq

Pretty neat. Marc is one of my college buddies who is over in Iraq right now.

hxxp://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5250975

Father views Midlands baby's birth from Iraq

(Richland County) August 7, 2006 - When Anna Cooper entered the world Monday afternoon, her daddy saw the whole thing. It's remarkable since Anna was at Providence Hospital Northeast, and Marc Cooper was halfway around the globe, in Baghdad.

Virginia Cooper spoke to WIS' Jack Kuenzie about how it was organized. She says Marc wanted to see if "it was available and he called the hospital and they said they could do it. And then they were great about getting it all organized."

Dr. Cooper, an army psychiatrist, was able to witness Anna's birth over a webcam set up in the delivery room. Virginia Cooper, a psychologist herself, could see her husband on a laptop near her bed.

Since December, the hospital has used webcams to connect about a half dozen couples, most of them in the military. All, for one reason or another, couldn't be physically together in the delivery room.

Most of the time, the hookup also allows husband and wife to hear each other. Monday, the connection in Iraq was not particularly good, so the Coopers had to send a lot of text messages.

Jack asked Major Cooper about the experience. His reply was, "I'm so happy I got to see my healthy baby girl."

Clinical manager Jennie Thomas talks about the technology, "It's very emotional because the families, they can touch base with their loved ones. The father can share in the delivery. If there are siblings they can see their daddy and they can be a part of the delivery also."

To Virginia, it felt like Marc was closer, "And it's felt like he's been here all day, so he's had a running commentary about everything that's been going on. He's been typing his notes and telling us what he thinks about what's going on. It's like, 'Your blood pressure's low-why is it low?'"

Anna is healthy, six pounds, 10 ounces.

The Coopers have one other child. While the couple isn't planning any more kids, she recommends the video link to those trying to make the best of similar circumstances. "It's a big blessing. I can't imagine, you know, just sending him a letter and four weeks later he finds out what happened. And that's what it used to be like. So this is pretty phenomenal that you can do it."

And if a father can see a face like this in the middle of a war - could anyone name a better use of technology?

Reported by Jack Kuenzie