Glen Ellyn dad delivers own baby on I-88
Ray Shishkoff of Glen Ellyn was driving his very pregnant wife, Liz, to the hospital about 4 a.m. Tuesday. But as they traveled east on I-88, her contractions became more intense.
Ray pulled over, and on the side of the tollway, delivered his own daughter in the front passenger seat of their Ford Focus. An ambulance showed up about three minutes later and took them to Elmhurst Memorial Hospital.
Charlotte River Shishkoff weighed in at 7 pounds and is 20 inches long. Her parents are tired but doing great, they say. Ray's name is listed on the birth certificate both as her father and the person who delivered her.
Master Sgt. Carlita Joe said Illinois State Police responded as quickly as possible to Ray Shishkoff's call, but by the time a trooper arrived at the right-hand shoulder of the eastbound lanes near York Road, little Charlotte had arrived.
Oddly enough, a relative of the Shishkoffs recommended some reading material: tips on delivering a baby in an emergency, a hospital spokesman said.
Ray didn't get around to reading it, but Liz did.
•Daily Herald staff writer Lee Filas contributed to this story.