Andrew Murray, the father, recounted, “He arrived two weeks early, catching us unprepared without a packed car or anything ready. I was still in awe of Roxanne. This is her second child, but her first was born 13 years ago.” Roxanne’s previous childbirth had lasted for 22 hours, so the couple was anticipating a similar experience this time around. However, baby Axel had different plans. Despite the short distance to Auckland Hospital, baby Axel decided to make his entrance in the back seat of the car, guided and delivered by his mother Roxanne.
Andrew remembered, “Amidst all the modern gadgets that mothers have these days, I was busy packing everything she needed, assembling and disassembling things (quite comically), and trying to figure out how to install the baby seat in the back. She was doing fine, and then suddenly, it happened. I didn’t have a midwife or any healthcare professional near us, but I didn’t feel alone. We live on the top floor of a building in the CBD on Albert St. There’s a long corridor that leads to our apartment, passing by all the other units, and an open lift, so it felt like the entire complex was with us.”
They almost managed to reach Auckland Hospital in time, but with Andrew nervously driving as fast as he could, Roxanne continued to labor in the back seat. Andrew described the situation, “We were almost there. I drove through the parking gate, bypassing the ticket booth. She was screaming, ‘it’s coming.’ It was quite a speedy drive. The baby’s head was already visible. Then, we reached the front entrance, and she was holding him in her arms.”
The unexpected and dramatic circumstances of Axel’s birth have undoubtedly left the Murray family with a unique and memorable story to share as they begin this new chapter of their lives.
