Right Place, Right Time: How an ED Team’s Training Turned into a Miracle

On what should have been an ordinary morning, teacher Britney Sabado gathered her things and prepared to close out the end of the school year. But during the drive to work, her day took a sudden, dramatic turn.

"She was having a little bit of pain, some contractions here and there, but her goal was to make it to the classroom," said her sister, Briana Zamoras, who was carpooling with Britney that day.

Britney’s contractions, along with her pain, continued to increase. When the sisters arrived at the school parking lot, Britney told Briana she couldn’t get out of the car.

The new plan was to go to Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children, but halfway through the drive, Britney could feel the baby was coming – fast.

Briana diverted to the closest emergency department at Pali Momi Medical Center.

Britney was in active labor. As the medical team wheeled Britney into an exam room, her water broke.

"I thought, well, I’m probably going to be delivering a baby today in the emergency room," said Dr. Tamarin McCartin, a Hawaii Pacific Health Medical Group OB-GYN at Pali Momi.

However, the baby was still positioned feet down, and the umbilical cord had prolapsed, causing the baby’s heart rate to become dangerously low.

Britney’s husband, Marcus, had arrived just in time to see his wife being wheeled into the Operating Room.

"It was such a scary moment. I couldn’t do nothing to help her," Marcus remembered.

As fate would have it, a team of ED nurses was at Pali Momi that day training for this very situation.

"We were conducting a simulation that day on pregnancy issues that can occur in an emergency department. This is what we train for. This is why our nurse educators are present on units … so that they can prepare for these very situations," said Bridget Lai, associate director of clinical education at Hawaii Pacific Health.

Once in the OR, the baby was delivered within minutes.

"When she came out of the womb and she started screaming, it was the most beautiful sound. I still get choked up because I was just so relieved," Dr. McCartin said.

"The first moment I held Gia, it was just a bundle of joy to see her smile, just seeing her healthy," Marcus said.

Today, both Mom and baby Gia are doing well, thanks to the care they received that day at Pali Momi.

"I was in the right place at the right time," Britney said. "I’d like to thank from the bottom of my heart the medical staff that attended to my needs. Although I don’t know your names, just know that the difference that you made in my life is huge."

"It wasn’t the ideal situation, but what we did have were the people. And man, the people came together, and it was phenomenal," said Dr. McCartin.

Watch the video below for Britney's full story and to hear more about this inspiring story of hope.

Published on: May 12, 2026