At an employee recognition ceremony in December at Woodhull Hospital, top officials honored Local 420 Service Aide William Vega, who helped deliver a baby on Nov. 28.

“Mr. Vega exemplifies the dedication and commitment our union members have to helping all New Yorkers,” said Local 420 President Carmen Charles. “They make NYC Health and Hospitals, which is the largest public healthcare system in this country, one of the best.”

Vega was cleaning the hospital grounds when he saw a man with a pregnant woman getting off the bus.

“I heard screams and saw she was in distress,” said Vega, a 16-year H+H employee and Local 420 shop steward. “Through the fence I saw him trying to carry her, to hold her up. I ran into the lobby, grabbed a wheel chair and ran to help them.”

Just 10 feet from the hospital doors, the birthing began. “I rushed her straight to Labor and Delivery on the 7th floor, bypassing the emergency room because it is not equipped to deliver babies,” Vega said.

“As the elevator opened on seven,” Vega said, “the baby’s head came out. The mother delivered right in front of the nurses’ station. There was blood everywhere.

Everyone pitched in. One grabbed the baby, one grabbed the mom.”

Vega’s quick actions and the staff in Woodhull’s maternity unit made sure the mother and her newborn daughter were healthy and safe in a hospital room. 

Although delivering babies is not part of his job description, Vega said he did what came naturally. “I don’t feel like a hero,” said Vega. “I always say: ‘It’s not a job—it’s an adventure.’ My job is to keep the facility clean. Without us, Woodhull could not open.”

“On any given day anything can happen. Just think,” Vega said, “If I wasn’t there that baby would have been born on the cold and rainy streets instead of in a warm, clean hospital.”